title: An observational study of antiretroviral drug resistance in treatment-naïve patients with HIV infection in New Zealand, from 2007 to 2011.
abstract: Background Genotypic testing for antiretroviral drug resistance is recommended for all patients newly diagnosed with HIV infection. This study sought to quantify the prevalence of antiretroviral drug resistance in treatment-naïve patients with HIV infection in New Zealand.
  
  
  METHODS
  All genotypic antiretroviral drug resistance testing in New Zealand is performed at LabPLUS, Auckland City Hospital. The clinicians who requested antiretroviral drug resistance testing during the period 2007-2011 were contacted and were asked to identify which patients with HIV infection were treatment-naïve at the time of testing. Results of the antiretroviral drug resistance tests for treatment-naïve patients with HIV infection were reviewed and the prevalence of resistance determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and 10 treatment-naïve patients with HIV infection who had antiretroviral drug resistance testing performed were included; 20 (10%) were found to have a significant resistance mutation. Nine patients had virus resistant to one or more nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, 13 to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and one to protease inhibitors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of antiretroviral drug resistance in treatment-naïve patients with HIV infection identified in this study is comparable to rates identified in studies from North America, the UK and Europe. This prevalence demonstrates the need for antiretroviral drug resistance testing for all treatment-naïve patients with HIV infection in New Zealand.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Middlemore Hospital, Private Bag 93311, Otahuhu, Auckland 1640, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hobbs
authors.affiliation: Virology Laboratory, LabPLUS, Auckland City Hospital, Private Bag 92024, Auckland Mail Centre, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jinyang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease Unit, Auckland City Hospital, Private Bag 92024, Auckland Mail Centre, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maze
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease Unit, Auckland City Hospital, Private Bag 92024, Auckland Mail Centre, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Briggs