Primary resistance to integrase inhibitors in Shenzhen

OBJECTIVES: In recent years, integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI)-containing regimens have been increasingly adopted in treatment for HIV/AIDS and promoted as non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis in China. This study aims to describe the prevalence of resistance to integrase and drug resistance mutations (DRMs) among ART-naive patients in Shenzhen, China. METHODS: Serum samples and demographic information were collected from newly reported ART-naive patients in Shenzhen in 2020. The study sequenced the coding sequence of the HIV-1 integrase gene and determined the DRMs.​. RESULTS: In this study, 1682 newly reported cases were included and 1071 of them were successfully sequenced finally. The prevalence of primary drug resistance was 1.77%, with 19 samples showing varying degrees of resistance to INSTIs. The study detected six major DRMs in 16 individuals and eight accessory DRMs in 24 individuals. The prevalence of transmitted drug resistance (TDR) mutations was 1.21%, with five transmitted mutations detected in 13 individuals. The prevalence of drug resistance to raltegravir and elvitegravir was statistically higher than to bictegravir, cabotegravir and dolutegravir. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of INSTI resistance in Shenzhen in 2020 was relatively high. ​Continued surveillance for resistance to INSTIs is recommended and treatment regimens should be adopted based on the pattern of resistance to INSTIs. ​Dolutegravir or bictegravir is first recommended when considering INSTIs as treatment regimens.