Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust reduces SSI rates by 71% with Steriwave Nasal Photodisinfection
Ondine Biomedical Inc. reports that results from the first NHS deployment of Steriwave® nasal decolonization technology at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust (Mid Yorks) have demonstrated a substantial reduction in surgical site infections (SSI) following elective knee and hip replacement surgery. A new health economic analysis conducted by the world-renowned York Health Economics Consortium (YHEC) also found that Mid Yorks’ use of Steriwave is cost-saving for hip and knee replacement surgery.
Mid Yorks’ analysis of data from a six-month period demonstrated that Steriwave significantly reduced the combined rate of SSI in elective hip and knee replacement surgeries by 71.4%, from a baseline rate of 1.40% to 0.42%. The results from knee replacements were particularly impressive, showing a reduction to zero from 2.3% (p=0.014). The number of hip replacement surgeries during the period was insufficient for statistical analysis. In both orthopaedic procedures, Steriwave was deployed in addition to the current standard of care which included octenidine antiseptic nasal gel and chlorhexidine body wash.
Using real-world data from Mid Yorks, the YHEC health economic analysis showed that in a standardized cohort of 1,000 people, Steriwave prevents a total of 9.8 SSIs more than standard of care alone, saves £2,869 and reduces the overall number of hospital bed days by 139. Alongside the YHEC health economic analysis, survey data collected at Mid Yorks revealed high levels of satisfaction with Steriwave among both staff and patients, with a strong likelihood of recommendation.
Dr Stuart Bond, Consultant Antimicrobial Pharmacist and Director of Innovation at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust said: “It is great to see these results which demonstrate an association with Steriwave and reduced SSI rates in orthopaedic surgery even when it is used in addition to the current standard of care. It would be interesting to see the impact Steriwave might have when used to replace the existing standard of care, as well as in surgical specialities which have higher baseline SSI rates. The positive feedback we have had confirms that Steriwave fits easily into pre-surgical workflows and is well-received by both patients and staff.”
Carolyn Cross, CEO of Ondine Biomedical, commented: “We commend Dr. Stuart Bond and the team at Mid Yorkshire Trust's Pontefract Hospital for their forward-thinking approach to innovation and commitment to tackling the persistent challenge of hospital-acquired infections and antibiotic resistance. We anticipate that MYTT’s early adoption of this technology in the UK will serve as an influential example for healthcare institutions globally, promoting the pursuit of improved patient outcomes and better patient throughput while mitigating the risks associated with antimicrobial resistance.”
Steriwave is a non-invasive and painless nasal decolonization treatment that uses a proprietary light-activated antimicrobial agent to destroy harmful pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, in the nose. Steriwave treatment involves applying a proprietary photosensitive agent to each nostril with a nasal swab, followed by illumination with a specific wavelength of red light for five minutes. The treatment is effective immediately and takes less than five minutes.
The YHEC economic analysis was commissioned by Health Innovation Network Yorkshire and Humber and Ondine Biomedical as part of a project to better understand the health economic impact of using Steriwave in the UK. Full details of the analysis are currently being prepared for publication.
