King's College Hospital (KCH) will implement a pilot program using Ondine Biomedical's Steriwave light-activated antimicrobial technology to combat hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). KCH, a leading healthcare innovator and teaching hospital in London, will integrate Steriwave into its quality improvement initiatives, with the pilot scheduled to commence later this year.
Steriwave Technology
Steriwave employs a proprietary light-activated agent to rapidly eradicate a broad spectrum of pathogens. The treatment involves applying the agent to each nostril via a nasal swab, followed by illumination with a red light laser. This process activates the photodynamic agent, triggering an oxidative burst that destroys bacteria, viruses, and fungi within five minutes. The rapid action of Steriwave minimizes the opportunity for pathogens to develop resistance, positioning it as a viable alternative to traditional antibiotics.
Adoption and Accessibility
In March 2024, Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust became the first UK institution to adopt Steriwave as standard of care for preventing surgical site infections in patients undergoing hip and knee surgeries. Following its inclusion in the NHS Supply Chain in June 2024, Steriwave has become more accessible to hospitals and healthcare organizations throughout England and Wales, promoting wider adoption of this technology.
About Ondine Biomedical Inc.
Ondine Biomedical Inc. is a Canadian life sciences company specializing in light-activated antimicrobial therapies, also known as photodisinfection. Ondine has a pipeline of investigational products based on its proprietary photodisinfection technology, in various stages of development. Steriwave has a CE mark in Europe and is approved in Canada and several other countries. In the US, it has been granted Qualified Infectious Disease Product designation and Fast Track status by the FDA and is currently undergoing clinical trials for regulatory approval.
Nasal Decolonization Guidelines
Nasal decolonization is recommended in the 2016 WHO Global guidelines for the prevention of surgical site infections and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) guidelines, published in May 2023, recommend nasal decolonization for major surgical procedures.
