title: World Health Organization generic protocol to assess drug-resistant HIV among children <18 months of age and newly diagnosed with HIV in resource-limited countries.
abstract: Increased use of nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) in pregnant and breastfeeding women will result in fewer children infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, among children infected despite prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT), a substantial proportion will acquire NNRTI-resistant HIV, potentially compromising response to NNRTI-based antiretroviral therapy (ART). In countries scaling up PMTCT and pediatric ART programs, it is crucial to assess the proportion of young children with drug-resistant HIV to improve health outcomes and support national and global decision making on optimal selection of pediatric first-line ART. This article summarizes a new World Health Organization surveillance protocol to assess resistance using remnant dried blood spot specimens from a representative sample of children aged <18 months being tested for early infant diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: HIV Department, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. bertagnolios@who.int
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bertagnolio
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Penazzato
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Persaud
authors.forename: Lynne M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Mofenson
authors.forename: Diane E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Bennett
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003906:Developing Countries; D059788:Dried Blood Spot Testing; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D060005:Genotyping Techniques; D006678:HIV / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents