Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust has taken a significant step forward in the battle against surgical site infections (SSIs) by approving the commercial adoption of Steriwave, an innovative light-activated antimicrobial technology developed by Ondine Biomedical. This decision will see Steriwave being expanded across hip and knee surgery patients at Pontefract and Pinderfields NHS Hospitals, aiming to drastically reduce the incidence of SSIs among orthopedic patients.

The Trust’s move to integrate Steriwave as a standard-of-care option follows a successful initial deployment at Pontefract Hospital, demonstrating the technology’s effectiveness in a real-world healthcare setting. Dr. Stuart Bond, Consultant antimicrobial pharmacist and Director of Innovation at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, lauded the decision as a milestone in providing patients access to cutting-edge technology that has the potential to significantly alleviate the burden of SSIs on patients and their families.

Carolyn Cross, CEO of Ondine Biomedical, expressed her satisfaction with the NHS’s leadership in antibiotic stewardship and the adoption of Steriwave, highlighting the positive reception from patients, surgeons, and nurses. This move underscores the NHS’s role as a global leader in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

A partnership between Ondine Biomedical, Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, and Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber has led to a health economic analysis by the York Health Economics Consortium (YHEC). The results, expected later this year, will bolster the case for Steriwave’s broader implementation across the NHS and in various surgical applications.

SSIs represent a significant healthcare challenge, affecting one in every 20 surgical patients within the NHS. With costs potentially reaching up to £100,000 per patient and an annual burden of over £2 billion to NHS England, the need for innovative solutions like Steriwave is more urgent than ever, especially as AMR continues to undermine the efficacy of traditional antibiotics.

Steriwave utilizes a specific wavelength of red light to eradicate nasal pathogens, a common source of harmful infections, without contributing to AMR. This approach, which aligns with WHO and NICE recommendations for pre-surgical nasal decolonization, offers a promising avenue for reducing SSIs across the healthcare spectrum.

Already proven in over 150,000 patient treatments worldwide, including major Canadian hospitals, Steriwave’s adoption by Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust not only represents a significant advancement in patient care but also positions the Trust at the forefront of innovative infection prevention strategies.

  Antimicrobial Resistance, Infection Prevention, Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust, Ondine Biomedical, Orthopedic Surgery, Steriwave, Surgical Site Infections