Changing Proportions of HIV-1 Subtypes and Transmitted Drug Resistance Among Newly Diagnosed HIV/AIDS Individuals - China, 2015 and 2018

Introduction: With the expansion of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV drug resistance is becoming more and more serious. This study describes the changing prevalence of HIV-1 subtypes and transmitted drug resistance (TDR) among newly diagnosed individuals in China, 2015 and 2018. Methods: A total of 8,980 individuals in 2015 and 2018 from 31 provincial-level administrative divisions (PLADs) were enrolled in this study. Viral RNAs were amplified and sequenced using an in-house polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol. The Stanford HIV Drug Resistance Database (HIVdb) was used to predict susceptibility to 12 antiretroviral drugs. Results: The prevalence of TDR was not significantly increased over time. The prevalence of TDR was 3.8% and 4.4% in 2015 and 2018, respectively (P=0.13). The prevalence of CRF55_01B increased from 2.3% in 2015 to 3.9% in 2018 (P