A groundbreaking study published in the peer-reviewed Canadian Journal of Surgery has put forward a strong recommendation for the adoption of nasal photodisinfection as a standard procedure in spine surgeries.
A process pioneered by Ondine Biomedical Inc, which has developed the Steriwave system, photodisinfection uses a light-activated agent to destroy bacteria in the nasal cavity, reducing infection risk without antibiotics.
Vancouver General Hospital conducted an eigh-year evaluation of the approach, involving 13,493 patients, which marks a significant shift in surgical infection prevention practices.
Led by Professor John Street, Director of the Integrated Ambulatory Spine programme, the in-depth assessment revealed a 66.5% reduction in surgical site infections (SSIs) in patients who underwent spine surgery and received the Steriwave treatment.
In addition to the health benefits, the study also pointed to notable cost savings for the hospital. Over the period in question, the implementation of Steriwave in pre-surgical protocols resulted in a net saving of $19.9 million for the hospital.
This figure underscores not only the clinical but also the economic efficiency of incorporating nasal photodisinfection in surgical care.
Ondine chief executive Carolyn Cross said: "With this simple, five-minute, painless intervention our Steriwave treatment makes a life-saving impact - in this case, 468 spine surgery patients saved from potentially lethal infections - more than enough to fill a 747 plane.
"We are truly grateful to Professor Street and the research staff at VGH for their pursuit of better patient outcomes.
"Postoperative spine infection can be a devastating and expensive complication after spine surgery, with patients at high risk for chronic pain, paralysis, return to the operating room, poor long-term outcomes, and even death.
"This study conclusively demonstrates that Steriwave is setting a new standard for safety and performance in infection control."
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