Ondine Biomedical Inc (AIM:OBI) has initiated the first UK pilot of its Steriwave nasal photodisinfection therapy at Pontefract Hospital, part of Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust.
The six-month trial will use Steriwave to prevent surgical site infections (SSIs) in 500 elective hip and knee surgery patients.
SSIs are a significant concern for the NHS, causing patient readmissions and accounting for an estimated £700mln in costs annually.
They also result in an average extended hospital stay of seven days per patient.
"Although infections after hip and knee surgeries are rare, we know that they lengthen patients' stay in hospital, complicate the recovery process, and cause significant pain and suffering. We look forward to sharing the results of the Steriwave pilot in due course," said Dr Stuart Bond, consultant antimicrobial pharmacist and director of innovation at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust.
Steriwave, already in use in Canadian hospitals, has shown marked improvement in post-surgical outcomes, including lower infection rates and reduced patient stay.
The process involves nasal decolonisation to eliminate pathogens, such as MRSA, which can lead to SSIs.
This approach contrasts with the usual use of the antibiotic nasal mupirocin, which has encountered concerns over high antimicrobial resistance rates.