Oseltamivir resistance during treatment of influenza A (H5N1) infection

The isolation of oseltamivir-resistant influenza A (H5N1) variants from two patients who died of the infection, in one case despite the early initiation treatment is reported. Results reveal that the surviving patients had rapid declines in the vital load to undetectable levels during treatment suggesting that resistance could emerge during the recommended regimen of oseltamivir therapy and might be associated with clinical deterioration.