Role of Microbicides in the Prevention of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Diseases - A Review

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) leading to the diseased state Acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases caused by various microorganisms are posing a major threat to humankind. Hence there is an urgent need for controlling its spread. In 2008, about 30 million people are living with HIV infection in the world. Heterosexual transmission particularly affecting woman is driving the epidemic today in many resource poor countries, where most of the infections are occurring. One of the biggest potential for prevention for HIV today lies in a method of using a topical microbicide. Microbicides are applied to vaginal or rectal microbicide surfaces with the goal of preventing or at least significantly reducing the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STI's). This article is presented here as an overview of the various HIV transmission and prevention methods, microbicide development pipeline and other important aspects concerned with it.