Drug-selected resistance mutations and non-B subtypes in antiretroviral-naive adults with established human immunodeficiency virus infection

The prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 antiretroviral resistance is expected to be higher in recently infected antiretroviral-naive individuals than in those who have been infected longer. Antiretroviral-naive HIV-1-infected adults who presented to an outpatient clinic in an urban hospital in Boston for initial evaluation in 1999 were screened for drug-selected resistance mutations and phylogenetic subtype. Drug-selected mutations were identified in 16 (18%) of 88 subjects. Twelve (14%) included mutations associated with nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors, 4 (5%) included mutations associated with nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors, and 3 (3%) included mutations associated with protease inhibitors. Two (2%) had resistance mutations associated with multiple classes of drugs. Nine (10%) subjects had infection with non-B subtype HIV-1 and did not have drug-selected mutations. Serological results indicated infection for greater than or equal to6 months. Drug-selected mutations or non-B subtypes were detected in a substantial portion of antiretroviral-naive adults who had been infected for at least 6 months.