A groundbreaking study in the UK has revealed a significant reduction in the need for antibiotics after sinus surgeries, thanks to a pioneering treatment called Steriwave.
Ondine Biomedical Inc (AIM:OBI, OTC:OBIMF), a Canadian company that has developed the light-activated gel to fight infections, shared these findings, spotlighting the impact of its technology on preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
Professor Claire Hopkins, a specialist in rhinology from King's College London and a consultant ENT surgeon at Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, conducted the analysis.
She found that incorporating Steriwave for nasal decolonisation before endoscopic sinus surgery led to a 77% decrease in antibiotic usage. This means antibiotic use among her patients fell from 22% to just under 5%.
Since 2021, Professor Hopkins has been applying Steriwave as a standard procedure for her patients at London Bridge Hospital.
She said: "I was amazed that studies show that by treating the nose you can reduce spinal surgical site infections - so it seemed an ideal way to reduce the risk of post-operative infection after nasal surgery.
"I have seen a significant reduction in post-operative infections requiring antibiotics, which is good for the patients, reducing the risk of antibiotic-related side effects, and important to help prevent ever-increasing antibiotic resistance.
"It needs formal controlled studies to further evaluate the effectiveness but I am impressed with the difference that I have seen in my practice."
Ondine CEO Carolyn Cross welcomed the findings, which build on a significant and growing data set being compiled around the real-world use of Steriwave.
She told investors: "In an era of rising drug resistance, antibiotic stewardship is of great importance. Sinus surgery is typically associated with high rates of routine post-operative antibiotic prescribing in order to reduce the risk of post-operative infection.
"Reducing antibiotic usage is important to curb rising antimicrobial resistance and preserve antibiotics' effectiveness when there is no other solution.
"We are pleased to be supporting Professor Hopkins' development and adoption of important new infection control procedures that enable a marked reduction in antibiotic use in sinus surgery patients."