Drug-resistant HIV is rife in SA — but there is light on the horizon
People not being open about defaulting on treatment is leading to more drug-resistant viral strains, but a new drug is on the way
The spread of drug-resistant HIV in SA is at a point where about one in five adults and one in two infants that become infected will be resistant to one class of drugs used in an HIV treatment plan. Not taking treatment diligently can also cause people to develop multi-drug-resistant (MDR) HIV. Drug-resistant HIV complicates current treatment plans and means there are less drug options for these patients. On top of this, there are social and economic constructs fueling the spread of drug-resistant HIV. While I believe we can always find ways to treat HIV, no matter how big the problem, we are at a point where current treatment options have become more limited. Mutation HIV is a complex, potent disease and when it mutates, it produces different variations of itself. This can lead to the development of MDR strains in the person’s body. Drugs that previously targeted a person’s HIV fail to fight these new strains, which means they cannot prevent the new strains from multiplying. Drug r...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.