Virological Failure and Drug Resistance in Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy After Treatment Interruption in Lilongwe, Malawi

Abstract

Virological failure combined with drug resistance after resumption of first-line ART occurred in 24.1% of the patients with treatment interruption, requiring a switch to protease inhibitor-based second-line therapy. Patients with treatment interruption should receive VL assessment after resumption of ART to detect treatment failure and to reduce development and spread of drug resistance.