Ondine Biomedical Inc (AIM:OBI) said that a recent study published in the journal Public Health Practice has demonstrated the effectiveness of its nasal photodisinfection program in reducing COVID-19 positivity rates at a major meat packing plant in Western Canada.
The program, implemented alongside standard safety measures recommended by the US Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), achieved a remarkable reduction of over 99% in the expected positivity rate.
The study, conducted over a seven-month period, involved administering over 21,000 PCR tests to the plant's workforce. The results showed only three positive PCR tests, compared to an expected 1,344 positive cases. This significant reduction allowed the plant to continue operating smoothly without any shutdowns or disruptions.
Additionally, the researchers noted a potential decrease in COVID-19 rates among the surrounding population, suggesting a reduced transmission from the plant workers to the community.
In a statement, Carolyn Cross, CEO of Ondine, commented: "Nasal photodisinfection has been used in hospitals across Canada for the past ten years, significantly reducing surgical site infections and readmission rates. This independent study extends experience with the technology to enterprise facilities and confirms the importance of nasal decolonisation to infection control of essential workers during a pandemic."
She added: "Outcomes of this study mirrored results found by Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (University Hospital Network, Toronto), as well as the University of Navarra (Pamplona, Spain) where substantial reduction of SARS-CoV-2 infectivity was found in treated patients. As broad-spectrum photodisinfection can efficiently destroy viruses, bacteria, and fungi, we speculate that treated patients received peripheral benefits beyond infectivity control, extending to risk reduction of more severe pulmonary disease."
Professor Richard Rusk from the University of Manitoba, a joint author of the study paper, said: "We found that nasal photodisinfection can provide safe and effective viral suppression of SARS-CoV-2 in an industrial workplace setting.
"This intervention not only reduced COVID-19 rates but also implied a substantial decrease in illness, disability, and death among plant employees. The study outcomes support the implementation of this approach in other industries and employee demographics globally."
With these promising findings, Ondine's nasal photodisinfection program could play a crucial role in controlling viral outbreaks and protecting essential workers in various industries worldwide.