Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation’s Advancing Innovation in Medicine (AIM) division supports Steriwave ICU use with clinical trials at Royal Columbian Hospital

• Treatment of patients in intensive care units (ICUs) would significantly expand Ondine’s market opportunity.
• Infection prevention is a top priority in ICUs as they face higher infection rates, more fragile and sicker patients, and bed capacity shortages.

Ondine Biomedical Inc., the Canadian life sciences company at the forefront of light-activated antimicrobial treatments, is pleased to announce a research collaboration with the Royal Columbian Hospital (RCH) Foundation’s Advancing Innovation in Medicine (AIM) division. 

This research collaboration, in support of Steriwave^® use in the intensive care unit (ICU), is investigating Steriwave’s impact on infection prevention and patient outcomes in critical care settings. It initially involves a 320-patient pilot with the potential for a subsequent multicentre trial with up to 2,000 patients depending on the results of the initial phase. The C$855,000 study will be funded by the RCH Foundation’s AIM division which will support the ICU clinical development work in a services-for-shares collaboration to help accelerate the use of photodisinfection in the ICU.

Royal Columbian Hospital, a hospital within BC’s Fraser Health Authority, will be the first to trial Ondine’s Steriwave nasal decolonization technology to prevent infections in ICUs. The study will be led by ICU physician Dr. Steven Reynolds and his research team at RCH. The purpose of this strategic initiative is to integrate Ondine’s Steriwave, a proven nasal decolonization therapy, into ICU infection control and workflow protocols to determine the impact of rapid broad spectrum nasal decolonization on ICU infection rates, impact on length of stay and mortality rates.

Dr. Steven Reynolds, founder and executive lead of the RCH AIM division, stated, "By eradicating bacteria in the nose without harming the nasal epithelium, we can help prevent the rapid colonization of ICU patients with multidrug-resistant bacteria. This is crucial because the nose is one of the primary reservoirs of bacteria that lead to serious infections, such as ventilator-associated and hospital-acquired pneumonia, both of which can be fatal. AIM is excited to partner with Ondine to rigorously evaluate nasal photodisinfection through ICU clinical trials, recognizing its potential as a promising intervention to reduce both costs and patient suffering."

This clinical work sets the stage to unlock the expansive global ICU market. Nasal decolonization, relying on topical antibiotics which can lead to resistance, is already recognized as a key infection prevention strategy in the USA having already demonstrated significant reductions in ICU infection rates in US hospitals.

It is the Board’s opinion that the potential cost savings for hospitals using Steriwave are substantial. Infections in ICUs, where patients are sicker and more fragile, are common and costly, impacting 1 in 8 patients (12-13%).² One study found that the length of stay for patients who develop an HAI in the ICU increases by 9 days as a direct result of the HAI.[i]  Given the average daily cost for an ICU bed in Canada is $3,592[ii], the additional cost can exceed $32,300 per HAI. Moreover, significant bed day capacity is being used up by these infections given the extended stays resulting from HAIs. The financial impact of reducing ICU HAIs therefore can be significant. Ondine anticipates that Steriwave will deliver both improved patient outcomes and considerable cost savings, echoing the successful results seen in pre-operative nasal decolonization of surgical patients. Steriwave is approved for nasal decolonization in Canada, Mexico, the UK, and Europe.

Carolyn Cross, CEO of Ondine Biomedical, highlighted the strategic importance of the study, "Our collaboration with Dr. Reynolds and his team at RCH is an important strategic initiative accelerating our ability to address the needs of the critical care market. Steriwave has the potential to revolutionize infection control in critical care settings globally, and this study is key to demonstrating its impact."

ICUs are the epicenter of HAIs, with critically ill patients at high risk due to their weakened conditions and the frequent use of invasive procedures. In Canada alone, hundreds of thousands of patients are admitted to ICUs each year, with 12-13% developing infections unrelated to their primary medical condition.[i] The rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) limits the effectiveness of traditional antibiotics, seriously complicating the ability to treat these infections.

A significant study conducted by HCA Healthcare in 2012 involving nearly 75,000 patients across 74 adult ICUs found that universal nasal decolonization using the antibiotic mupirocin reduced all-cause bloodstream infections by 44%.[ii] However, with rising mupirocin resistance rates as high as 80%,[iii] there is a critical need for new solutions. Ondine’s Steriwave offers a promising alternative—broad-spectrum effectiveness without contributing to AMR.

Steriwave is a non-invasive, painless treatment that uses a proprietary antimicrobial agent activated by a specific wavelength of red light to destroy bacteria, viruses, and fungi in the nasal passages. The treatment is effective immediately, takes less than five minutes, and allows the normal nasal microbiome to recover swiftly. This innovative approach offers a potentially life-saving solution for ICU patients, who are particularly vulnerable to infections.

[i] Johnstone J, Garber G, Muller M. Health care-associated infections in Canadian hospitals: still a major problem. CMAJ. 2019 Sep 9;191(36):E977-E978. (link)

[ii] HCA Press Release: Studay at HCA Hospitals Shows “Universal Decolonization” of ICU Patients Reduces Bloodstream Infections by 44 Percent. 2012. (link)

[iii] Poovelikunnel T, Gethin G, Humphreys H. Mupirocin resistance: clinical implications and potential alternatives for the eradication of MRSA. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2015;70(10):2681-2692. (link)

[i] Stewart S, Robertson C, Pan J, et al. Impact of healthcare-associated infection on length of stay. J Hosp Inf. 2021;114:23-31. (link)

[ii] Canadian Institute for Health Information. Care in Canadian ICUs.;2016. (link)