HIV resistance testing and detected drug resistance in Europe. AIDS
Schultze et al. on behalf of EuroSIDA aimed to describe regional differences and trends in resistance testing and in the prevalence of detected resistance among individuals experiencing virological failure. Compared to 74.19% of individuals in 1997, only 5.11% showed evidence of virological failure in 2012. Around one-third of the individuals received a resistance test within 12 months of virological failure, but this proportion decreased after 2004. Resistance was detected in 77.9% of the tests. The detection of resistance was less common in Northern and Central Eastern Europe, compared to Southern Europe. The odds of detecting resistance were lower in tests done in 1997–2000 and 2009–2010, compared to those carried out in 2003–2004.
The study findings suggest a selective approach to resistance testing. Public health policy aimed at minimizing the emergence of drug resistance might benefit from targeting specific regions of Europe, notably in the countries in Eastern Europe.