Question

Drug resistance testing should be done:

a. Only on people who have been receiving ART.
b. Only on people who have never received ART.
c. Only when ART drugs stop working.
d. In persons with acute or chronic HIV infection and when changing drug regimens.

Answer 1

Resistance testing for HIV should be conducted in individuals with acute or chronic infection and when altering treatment regimens to manage resistance and optimize treatment effectiveness.

Step-by-step explanation:

Drug resistance testing should be done in persons with acute or chronic HIV infection and when changing drug regimens. This approach aids in optimizing the treatment for HIV/AIDS patients by identifying any resistance the virus may have developed to the current antiretroviral therapy (ART). Since HIV mutates rapidly, it's crucial that testing is done whenever there's a need to adapt the treatment strategy to ensure the efficacy of the medication. Multidrug regimens, such as highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), significantly decrease the likelihood of the virus developing resistance to treatment, but resistance can still occur over time or due to inadequate patient compliance. Accordingly, continuous monitoring and testing for drug resistance are essential components of managing HIV infection effectively.