Effectiveness of vaginal microbicides in preventing HIV transmission

To evaluate the evidence on the effectiveness of vaginal microbicides in preventing HIV transmission in women.

Systematic review through a comprehensive search of relevant electronic databases for eligible randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published through June 2019. Two authors independently screened titles and abstracts according to eligibility criteria, then extracted data and assessed risk of bias of included studies. We conducted a random-effects meta-analysis of risk ratios (RR) of HIV infection and assessed heterogeneity using chi-squared and I² tests. Sources of heterogeneity were investigated through subgroup analysis, publication bias was assessed using funnel plots, and certainty of evidence was graded using GRADEPro software.

We included 18 RCTs which enrolled 40,048 sexually active, HIV-negative, non-pregnant women, aged 16 years and older, mainly from sub-Saharan Africa. The intravaginal ring containing dapivirine significantly reduced HIV risk by 29% (RR 0.71, 95% CI: 0.57-0.89; 2 RCTs, 4,564 women, moderate certainty of evidence). Estimates of effect of tenofovir 1% (RR 0.83, 95% CI: 0.65-1.06), nonoxynol-9 (RR 1.15, 95% CI: 0.93-1.42), cellulose sulphate (RR 1.16, 95% CI: 0.61-2.21), SAVVY (RR 1.34, 95% CI: 0.69-2.59), Carraguard (RR 0.89, 95% CI: 0.71-1.10), BufferGel (RR 1.02, 95% CI: 0.71-1.46), 0.5% PRO2000 (RR 0.88, 95% CI: 0.60-1.28) and 2% PRO2000 (RR 0.81, 95% CI: 0.58-1.12) failed to reach statistical significance; each had low certainty of evidence.

The long-acting intravaginal ring containing dapivirine significantly reduced risk of HIV transmission in women by 29%. The remaining microbicides had no evident effect.