Usage of Antivirals and the Occurrence of Antiviral Resistance in Norway 2022
Report
|Published
The annual report for Resistance against Antivirals in Norway (RAVN) presents Norwegian data about antiviral resistance and highlights topics linked to treatment of viral infections.
Summary
This is the tenth report from the surveillance system for Resistance against Antivirals in Norway (RAVN).
In this report, we present data for 2022 on resistance against antivirals for treatment of influenza, HIV-1 infection, hepatitis B virus infection (HBV), hepatitis C virus infection (HCV), human herpes virus infections, and SARS-CoV-2, as well as data from the Norwegian Drug Wholesales Statistics Database showing the usage of antiviral drugs in Norway in 2022.
In addition to the surveillance data, we have selected relevant topics that are given special attention in the report. The first is related to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. We have chosen to include a chapter addressing drug resistance in Eastern Europe, and how the increased migration related to the humanitarian challenges in Ukraine might affect the prevalence of antiviral resistance in Norway.
Another topic we have focused on in this report, is HIV drug resistance after six years with fully reimbursed pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in Norway. We present data on key drug resistance mutations associated with reduced susceptibility to the drugs used for PrEP, detected in Norway during the last 10 years.
Furthermore, we include a chapter describing a new antiviral that has recently received conditional approvement for treatment of infection with hepatitis D virus (HDV). Treatment of HDV infection is discussed, along with the potential risk for antiviral drug resistance.
Antimicrobial resistance is considered one of the greatest threats to global health. Better knowledge and increased awareness are essential to be able to control emerging antiviral drug resistance, and surveillance will be a key tool for management.
It is our hope that the report contains valuable data and interesting perspectives for all colleagues with an interest in the field of infectious diseases, and for those developing guidelines and strategies to prevent transmission of viral infections.
