Report on the Fifth Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections.

Presentations made at the Fifth Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections are summarized. Hundreds of papers confirmed and analyzed the impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in clinical trials and routine clinical care. Papers on HAART therapy and research on the underlying dynamics of HIV infection are highlighted in the areas of epidemiology, prevention, HIV pathophysiology, primary HIV infection, combination antiretroviral therapy, salvage therapy, antiretroviral toxicities, adherence issues, and opportunistic infections. The papers show that the theoretical and therapeutic advances made in 1996 and 1997 are tempered by challenges that remain: the emergence of viral resistance, extensive cross resistance affecting antiretrovirals still in the development pipeline, the failure to extend the benefits of antiretroviral therapy to the vast majority of AIDS patients, the continuing problem of HIV transmission, and the need and frustrating search for a vaccine.