Linking HIV and antiretroviral drug resistance surveillance in Peru: a model for a third-generation HIV sentinel surveillance.
BACKGROUND
HIV drug resistance surveillance is limited by recruitment and selection bias and by limited information regarding HIV incidence rates, secondary resistance, and treatment prevalence.


METHODS
A second-generation HIV sentinel surveillance among men who have sex with men (MSM), regardless of prior history of HIV screening, serostatus, or treatment, was conducted in Peru in 2002. Recent HIV infection was estimated using sensitive/less sensitive enzyme immunoassay testing. Genotypic resistance testing was performed.


RESULTS
HIV prevalence was 13.9% (456 HIV positive of 3280 participants). HIV incidence was estimated to be 5.1 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval: 3.1-8.3). Among 143 MSM who were aware of their HIV infection before testing, only 20 (14.0%) were receiving antiretrovirals (ARV). Mutations conferring ARV resistance were found in 12 (3.3%) of 359 treatment-naive and 5 (31.3%) of 16 treatment-experienced participants with successful genotyping. One recently infected man from Lima demonstrated 3-class multidrug resistance. The most frequently observed mutations in treatment-naive, chronically infected persons from Lima were M184V (1.7%), D30N (1.3%), L90M (1.3%), and L10I (1.3%).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of ARV resistance among treatment-naive MSM in Peru is low, reflecting limited access to treatment before 2004, and contrasts with the history of ARV treatment in developed countries, where high levels of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor resistance occurred before introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy. Linking ARV resistance and HIV sentinel surveillance in developing settings is feasible and should be considered in third-generation HIV sentinel surveillance programs.
Lama
Javier R
JR
Asociacion Civil Impacta Salud y Educacion, Lima, Peru. jrlama@impactaperu.org
Sanchez
Jorge
J
Suarez
Luis
L
Caballero
Patricia
P
Laguna
Alberto
A
Sanchez
Jose L
JL
Whittington
William L H
WL
Celum
Connie
C
Grant
Robert M
RM
D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010568:Peru; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents