Virologic Failure Rates Vary Substantially Across Countries in Africa and Asia

Although access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in resource-limited settings has improved, poor treatment outcomes and the emergence and transmission of drug-resistant viruses remain important challenges that could undermine programmatic successes. The WHO public health approach (i.e., standardization of ART services through use of clinical/immunological criteria only for ART initiation or switch, limited access to virologic monitoring, and use of low–genetic barrier drugs) may favor the rapid emergence, spread, and transmission of resistant viruses.

In a recent cross-sectional study, researchers evaluated treatment outcomes, including virologic failure and drug resistance, among patients attending ART services in seven resource-limited coun…