Ondine Biomedical Inc. Reports 32% Reduction in Surgical Infections with Steriwave

New data from the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute indicates a significant 32% decrease in cardiac surgical site infections (SSIs) after implementing Steriwave. This light-activated antimicrobial replaced the traditionally used antibiotic Mupirocin. The study was presented by University of Alberta researchers at the AMMI Canada-CACMID conference.

The pilot, which started in June 2023, showed that Steriwave led to a drop in average SSI rates from 1.67 to 0.7 per 100 surgeries, translating to a cost saving of $56,000 in the first quarter. Remarkably, Steriwave achieved a 94% compliance rate, with no reported adverse reactions. This reflects positively, especially considering the high resistance and low compliance issues associated with Mupirocin.

Dr. Stephanie Smith, leading the study, expressed optimism about the reduction in SSIs. This result is pivotal as SSIs account for significant post-operative complications and increased healthcare costs. Steriwave’s method of using a patented photosensitizer activated by red light to eradicate pathogens promises a robust alternative to traditional antibiotics, which are increasingly ineffective due to resistance.