Microbicides 2004 Microbicides 200428-31 March 2004, Hilton London MetropoleThe conference42 million men, women and children worldwide were living with HIV by the end of December 2002 (source: UNAIDS), including five million newly-infected during that year alone. Another 45 million people will become infected between 2002 and 2010, unless the current transmission rates can be vastly reduced. Of the 42 million, 29.4 million live in sub-Saharan Africa and 58% of them are women. Not only are women more susceptible to HIV infection, many are powerless to insist on the use of condoms or other methods of protecting themselves. In this context, and with the knowledge that an effective HIV vaccine is unlikely to be available for several years, the need for an effective topical microbicide grows ever more urgent. 2004 should prove to be a landmark year in the field of microbicide development as the first Phase III trials of novel products are due to start – the next step along the road to making a microbicide available to the millions worldwide in desperate need of protection.The aims of the Microbicides 2004 conference are to:Report novel or innovative work in the microbicides fieldProvide updates on recent microbicides research, divided into three tracks: basic science, clinical science, and behavioural science (including public health and the microbicide marketplace)Provide a forum for the discussion of new developments in microbicide research including ethical, clinical, behavioural and methodological issuesPresent opportunities for knowledge-sharing between microbicide researchers, public-health workers and advocacy organisations.There will be an opening ceremony on the evening of Sunday 28 March at which politicians, policy makers and the international media are expected. The conference will run for a full three days, each of which will contain:Scientific overviews and presentations with plenary sessions, invited lecturers and presentations of original researchWorkshops to review issues unique to microbicides such as trial design and outcome measures, and ethical issues in the clinical trials of microbicidesPoster sessions. Focus on LondonFollowing the successful Microbicides conferences in Washington in 2000 and Antwerp in 2002, March 2004 sees the focus move to London.The venue is the Hilton Metropole Hotel, two minutes by taxi from Paddington station and the Heathrow Express, with a journey time from the airport of 15 minutes. The hotel is in walking distance of Hyde Park and London’s main shopping streets, and close to Imperial College. Accommodation will be available at the venue and other hotels in the vicinity.London in March offers a variety of diversions for out-of-conference relaxation, including sight-seeing and shopping; the arts and the theatre; and pubs, clubs and restaurants to suit every taste. Conference staff will be on hand to help delegates plan their spare time.To book your place or find out more information, e-mail info@microbicides2004.org.uk or telephone the Event Office on +44 (0) 20 7720 4411
Oral: invited speaker Oral: Track A Oral: Track B Oral: Track C Poster: Track A Poster: Track B Poster: Track C Abstract only Authors

02092_3 VAGINAL HYGEINE PRACTICES IN A LONDON, UK POPULATION

Sawant Sangeeta
Andrea Holmes, Daniel Richardson, Nicola Kaganson, Miranda Cowen, Andrew Nunn, Linda Greene, Sheena Mccormack, Charles Lacey.
MRC/DFID Microbicide Development Programme (MDP)

Background
Vaginal hygiene practices such as douching or washing the vagina have been linked to presence of bacterial vaginosis, pelvic inflammatory disease and HIV infection. We know that hygiene practices vary between women of different countries and ethnicity. Such hygiene practices may be linked to the acceptability of a vaginal study product, and might influence outcomes in safety or effectiveness microbicide trials. This study assessed vaginal hygiene practices amongst women in West London.

Methods
Interviews were conducted at the sexual health clinic, Jefferiss Wing, St Mary’s Hospital. The main variables analysed were the nature and frequency of vaginal hygiene practices, any products used for such, and other demographic variables. Willingness to use an intravaginal gel in a microbicide study was also assessed.

Results
Initial analysis of the first 50 questionnaires revealed that 58% of women practised some form of intravaginal hygiene. Of the subjects who practised vaginal washing, 86% do so during a shower or bath, while 45% do so after sex or menses, 45% wash at least once a day, 28% once a week and 24% once a month. Of the subjects who practised vaginal washing using fingers or flannels water only was used in 50%, soap in 40%, bubble bath products in 30%, antiseptics in 5% and douching products in 5% of the subjects. Of all subjects 24% used commercially available douching appliances, 10% only to introduce water and 14% to introduce a douching product. 46% of the subjects were taught the hygiene practices by their mother, while 36% were self motivated. The completed database will be analysed for the associations of vaginal hygiene practices with age, ethnicity, educational history, smoking and past history of STI’s.

Conclusions
58% of women attending a sexual health/STD clinic practiced some form of intravaginal hygiene. This could influence studies of vaginal microbicides. Hence the prevalence and nature of vaginal hygiene practices in a population is an important factor in the design and implementation of microbicide clinical trials.

Dr Sangeeta Sawant
Clinical Trials Centre, Winston Churchill Wing, St Mary’s Hospital Campus, Imperial College, London, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG
(Telephone) 020 7886 6738 (Fax) 020 7886 6123 (E-mail) ssawant@imperial.ac.uk