Ondine Biomedical Inc., a globally recognized Canadian life sciences company known for its innovative light-activated antimicrobial treatments, announced that Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, one of the biggest and busiest critical acute hospital trusts in the United Kingdom, will incorporate its groundbreaking Steriwave® nasal decolonization technology later this month.
Steriwave is to be used as part of a quality improvement (QI) initiative to prevent infections in patients who are undergoing unique types of surgical procedures like removal of brain or upper spine tumors through the nose (endonasal endoscopic anterior skull base surgery). The fundamental objectives of the QI initiative are to minimize post-operative antibiotic consumption within 30 days of the operation, and to lessen the need for outpatient appointments for infection treatment.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust services over 1.5 million patients annually. The Steriwave QI initiative will be overseen by Paul Nix, Rhinology and Anterior Skull Base Surgeon at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Nix details, ‘We often face the risk of infection as the surgical site is accessed through the nose, a known hotbed for pathogens, risking the introduction of these disease-causing agents into the brain.’
The unique attribute of Steriwave lies in its ability to be administered once a patient has been admitted or on short notice in case of an emergency operation, working instantly against infection-causing agents. The Steriwave system is an advanced antimicrobial treatment incorporating a light-activated agent to promptly eliminate infection-causing pathogens. Once the agent is swabbed in each nostril, the area is exposed to a red light laser, triggering an oxidative burst, eliminating bacteria, viruses, and fungi in a short 5-minute treatment.
Such expeditious action ensures that pathogens do not have ample time to develop resistance, thereby making Steriwave an effective substitute for antibiotics. With the adoption of Steriwave by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Ondine Biomedical Inc. continues to establish a significant presence in the domain of infection prevention and control within healthcare settings.