Ondine Biomedical Inc. (LON: OBI), the Canadian life sciences company pioneering light-activated antimicrobial treatments, confirms that King’s College Hospital (KCH) will be running a pilot of its Steriwave^® light-activated antimicrobial technology. KCH, a globally recognized leader in healthcare innovation and one of London’s largest teaching hospitals, will be using Steriwave as part of a quality improvement initiative pilot focused on preventing hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). The pilot at KCH is due to start later this year.

Ondine’s Steriwave technology is a groundbreaking antimicrobial treatment that uses a proprietary light-activated agent to rapidly eliminate infection-causing pathogens. The agent is applied to each nostril using a nasal swab and then illuminated with a red light laser. The light activates the photodynamic agent, causing an oxidative burst that destroys infection-causing bacteria, viruses and fungi in a single, 5-minute treatment. The process works so rapidly that pathogens do not have the opportunity to develop resistance, making it a viable alternative to antibiotics.

In March 2024, Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust became the first UK institution to adopt Steriwave as standard of care for preventing surgical site infections in hip and knee surgery patients. Following its addition to the NHS Supply Chain in June 2024, Steriwave has become more accessible to hospitals and healthcare organizations across England and Wales, facilitating broader adoption of this innovative technology. 

[1] Surgical Site Infection Prevention: Key facts on decolonization of nasal carriers of Staphylococcus aureus. World Health Organization. (link)

[2] Calderwood MS, Anderson DJ, Bratzler DW, et al. Strategies to prevent surgical site infections in acute-care hospitals: 2022 Update. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2023;44(5):695-720. (link)