ANTIVIRAL RESISTANCE - MECHANISMS, CLINICAL-SIGNIFICANCE, AND FUTURE IMPLICATIONS

The increased awareness of antiviral resistance over the past decade h as paralleled the development of new antiviral agents. While such resi stant viral isolates are of clinical significance primarily in immunoc ompromised individuals, the development and transmission of such mutan ts have been reported in immunocompetent persons as well. As antiviral agents are increasingly utilised by the clinician, the incidence of s uch occurrences is likely to increase. Issues relating to mechanisms o f antiviral resistance, clinical manifestations and significance of re sistance, and implications for future antiviral development and utilis ation are reviewed in this article. Viruses that are discussed include herpes simplex virus, varicella-zoster virus, cytomegalovirus, influe nza A virus, and human immunodeficiency virus.