Prevalence and epidemiology of HIV type 1 drug resistance among newly diagnosed therapy-naive patients in Belgium from 2003 to 2006

This study is the first prospective study to assess the prevalence, epidemiology,
and risk factors of HIV-1 drug resistance in newly diagnosed HIV-infected
patients in Belgium. In January 2003 it was initiated as part of the pan-European
SPREAD program, and continued thereafter for four inclusion rounds until December
2006. Epidemiological, clinical, and behavioral data were collected using a
standardized questionnaire and genotypic resistance testing was done on a sample
taken within 6 months of diagnosis. Two hundred and eighty-five patients were
included. The overall prevalence of transmitted HIV-1 drug resistance in Belgium
was 9.5% (27/285, 95% CI: 6.6-13.4). Being infected in Belgium, which largely
coincided with harboring a subtype B virus, was found to be significantly
associated with transmission of drug resistance. The relatively high rate of
baseline resistance might jeopardize the success of first line treatment as more
than 1 out of 10 (30/285, 10.5%) viruses did not score as fully susceptible to
one of the recommended first-line regimens, i.e., zidovudine, lamivudine, and
efavirenz. Our results support the implementation of genotypic resistance testing
as a standard of care in all treatment-naive patients in Belgium.

Publication year:2008

Keywords:EPIDEMIOLOGY, HIV