About AIDS
By Sandy Bartlett, Fri., July 25, 2003
Paris: Drug Resistance Growing in Europe, Too
Last week at the International AIDS Society's global conference in Paris, one presentation immediately jumped into the news: drug-resistant infections.
European studies suggest that 10% of new HIV infections across 17 countries are with a drug-resistant virus. This confirms what we have already demonstrated in several urban areas in the U.S., where 12-13% of new infections are typically drug resistant. The European study is the largest yet, though.
Articles in major newspapers and magazines last week made it sound as if "resistance" was a pending death knell. It's important, however, to point out that drug-resistant infection does not mean that the person isn't treatable. Some degree of resistance to one or more AIDS drugs does not mean that other drugs won't work or even that the challenged drug has no effect. The given drug may still work to some degree, but it likely will fail sooner than it would have without a resistant virus. Thus, the patient's treatment options are definitely reduced.
Also, if a person with drug-resistant HIV infects others, they will have acquired the same kind of resistance and will have compromised treatment options, too.
All this points out several things. First, adherence counts! Every pill, on time, every day! No more than two missed doses per month or drug resistance becomes likely. Second, pharmaceutical research must bring more drugs and whole new classes of drugs into availability to keep up.
Third, safer behavior choices still matter! In a sense, the HIV that's spreading out there now is more dangerous than before. Despite some level of treatment being available, catching a drug-resistant (especially a multidrug-resistant) strain of HIV could mean that one's chances of long-term survival might not be too hot.
We each have choices about becoming HIV-infected or not. Staying healthy or not. Putting others at risk or not. HIV/AIDS is one the most "optional" plagues in history. Choose well!
Sandy Bartlett
Community Education Coordinator, AIDS Services of Austin
