Study summary
Efficacy of topical mosquito repellent (picaridin) plus long-lasting insecticidal nets versus long-lasting insecticidal nets alone for control of malaria: a cluster randomised controlled trial
Sluydts V, Durnez L, Heng S, et al.
- Study type
- Rct
- Year
- 2016
- Published in
- The Lancet Infectious Diseases 16(10):1169-1177
- Evidence strength
- Definitive evidence
Summary
Large cluster-randomized controlled trial in 117 endemic villages in Cambodia testing community-wide topical 20% picaridin plus long-lasting insecticidal nets versus nets alone for malaria control.
Key findings
Adding free topical picaridin to bed nets did NOT significantly reduce malaria at community scale, attributed largely to incomplete adherence rather than entomological failure (companion entomology showed >95% personal protection for at least 5 h). Personal-protection efficacy does not automatically translate to population-level reduction.
Limitations
Community effectiveness trial, not an individual efficacy trial; null result driven by compliance, not repellent failure; single region.