title: Progress of implementation of the World Health Organization strategy for HIV drug resistance control in Latin America and the Caribbean.
abstract: By the end of 2010, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) achieved 63% antiretroviral treatment (ART) coverage. Measures to control HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) at the country level are recommended to maximize the efficacy and sustainability of ART programs. Since 2006, the Pan American Health Organization has supported implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) strategy for HIVDR prevention and assessment through regional capacity-building activities and direct technical cooperation in 30 LAC countries. By 2010, 85 sites in 19 countries reported early warning indicators, providing information about the extent of potential drivers of drug resistance at the ART site. In 2009, 41.9% of sites did not achieve the WHO target of 100% appropriate first-line prescriptions; 6.3% still experienced high rates (> 20%) of loss to follow-up, and 16.2% had low retention of patients (< 70%) on first-line prescriptions in the first year of treatment. Stock-outs of antiretroviral drugs occurred at 22.7% of sites. Haiti, Guyana, and the Mesoamerican region are planning and implementing WHO HIVDR monitoring surveys or threshold surveys. New HIVDR surveillance tools for concentrated epidemics would promote further scale-up. Extending the WHO HIVDR lab network in Latin America is key to strengthening regional lab capacity to support quality assured HIVDR surveillance. The WHO HIVDR control strategy is feasible and can be rolled out in LAC. Integrating HIVDR activities in national HIV care and treatment plans is key to ensuring the sustainability of this strategy.
authors.affiliation: Pan American Health Organization, Brasilia, Brazil. ravasigi@paho.org
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ravasi
authors.forename: Noreen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jack
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alonso Gonzalez
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sued
authors.forename: María Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Pérez-Rosales
authors.forename: Bertha
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vila
authors.forename: Amalia del
authors.initials: Ad
authors.lastname: Riego
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghidinelli
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D014943:Global Health; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects*; D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D013997:Time Factors; D014944:World Health Organization / Q000458:organization & administration*
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents