The Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, one of the world’s foremost cardiothoracic centres, is launching a pilot programme with Ondine’s Steriwave nasal photodisinfection therapy.
This therapy is used to decolonise the nose prior to surgery to reduce surgical site infections. Working in collaboration with Ondine’s distribution partner, Mölnlycke Health Care, a global provider of medical solutions, this strategic initiative aims to enhance patient safety and surgical outcomes by addressing the critical challenge of surgical site infections (SSIs) amid rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Royal Papworth Hospital’s decision to pilot Steriwave places it among a growing list of internationally recognized cardiac centres that are adopting universal pre-surgical nasal photodisinfection protocols. Canada’s Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, an early adopter, found a 32% reduction in cardiac SSIs over mupirocin nasal decolonisation protocols.
The Royal Papworth pilot will integrate Steriwave into cardiac surgical care pathways as part of a broader strategy to reduce patient microbial burden (specifically in the nose) prior to surgery to help prevent infections. The nose is a known reservoir for multidrug resistant bacteria, viruses and fungi that are easily transmitted and have been identified as a major source of post-surgical infections.
Steriwave is a rapid, non-antibiotic nasal decolonisation technology that does not induce resistance. It has been deployed in infection prevention protocols at hospitals internationally to address the global rise in multidrug resistant infection. In vitro studies presented at ICPIC 2022 and 2023 demonstrated 99.99% kill rates against key pathogens associated with surgical site infections, including extensively drug-resistant (XDR) gram-negative bacteria and ESKAPE organisms such as MRSA, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ICPIC, 2022 and 2023) and 99.9% for Candidozyma auris, the deadly fungus of growing concern to all hospitals.
Royal Papworth Hospital is widely considered one of the world’s leading centres for cardiac and cardiothoracic care. As the UK’s largest specialist cardiothoracic hospital, it consistently performs more heart and lung transplants than any other facility in the country and serves as a national and international referral centre for highly specialised procedures. Its strong partnership with the University of Cambridge, particularly through the Heart and Lung Research Institute, positions it at the forefront of cardiovascular and respiratory research.
Carolyn Cross, CEO of Ondine Biomedical commented: "Royal Papworth has long been at the forefront of cardiothoracic innovation, and we are honoured to support their leadership in advancing infection prevention. This pilot underscores our shared commitment to protecting vulnerable patients while addressing the urgent global challenge of antimicrobial resistance."
About Steriwave and its Mode of Action
Steriwave nasal photodisinfection is a non-invasive and painless treatment that uses a proprietary light-activated photosensitive agent to destroy harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi, including antibiotic-resistant strains, in the nasal passages. The procedure takes five minutes and, unlike antibiotics, is effective immediately and allows the normal nasal microbiome to recover quickly, without fostering antimicrobial resistance.
The two-step process involves applying the Steriwave formulation in the nostrils where it electrostatically binds to microbes rather than human cells. The area is then illuminated with safe red light to activate the formulation, triggering an oxidative burst that physically destroys all manner of pathogens within minutes. This rapid and overwhelming oxidative stress makes it extremely difficult for pathogens to develop resistance, and the process stops immediately once the light is turned off.
