US HIV Study Should Be a Warning to Australia

A new study showing that three-quarters of Americans with HIV are resistant to one or more drugs should serve as a warning against complacency in Australia, an advocate said. Bill Whittaker, president of the Australian Federation for AIDS Organizations, said the findings followed a "wake-up call" for Australia earlier this year when it was revealed that the state of Victoria reported its first rise in new HIV infections for five years. "Some of these new infections are undoubtedly because people think they can just take the pills and they will be alright. People have to know there is no magic bullet, and we are seeing already an increasing trend in cross-resistance between the classes of drugs, as well as toxicity problems." Whittaker said the US study came at a time when Australian doctors were veering away from early treatment due to patients' problems with drug compliance and toxicity.

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