Transmission of Multidrug-Resistant Human Immunodeficiency Virus — The Wake-Up Call

Abstract

The addition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)–protease inhibitors to the armamentarium of antiretroviral drugs has dramatically improved the prognosis for HIV-infected persons.¹³ Although these agents do not eradicate the virus,⁴⁶ they can provide long-term control of viral replication and substantially prolong disease-free survival, and they represent an important therapeutic advance. As has been the case throughout the brief history of the HIV epidemic, any progress invariably leads to new obstacles to be overcome; the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy is certainly no exception to this rule.A number of sociologic, pharmacologic, immunologic, and virologic issues . . .