THUNDER BAY — The surgeons at Big Thunder Orthopedics have acquired new technology which they expect will reduce the risk of infection among their staff and among their patients.
Steriwave Nasal Decolonization (ND) is an infection control mechanism developed by Vancouver-based Ondine Biomedical Inc.
It's a six-minute, broad-spectrum antimicrobial treatment that involves swabbing the nose with a blue gel (photosensitizer) followed by illumination which creates a reaction that kills pathogens immediately.
Staff and healthcare professionals who deal directly with patients can receive the treatment as an adjunct therapy to personal protective equipment (PPE) already in use.
"In these unprecedented times we need to take all available measures to reduce the risk of infection for our healthcare workers and provide them peace of mind that we are doing everything we can to protect them," said surgeon Dr. David Puskas.
"Steriwave is PPE on steroids," Puskas added.
Patients will also be given the opportunity to access the treatment, which has been proven to reduce surgical site infections.
Noses are major reservoirs for bacteria, viruses and fungi because of the warm, moist environment they provide.
Thunder Bay orthopedic surgeon Dr. Travis Marion explained that the new technology uses a low-level (Class One) laser combined with a solution that essentially binds to bacteria or viruses.
When the light is applied, it causes a reaction "that basically kills the bug," he said.
Dr. Marion said Sterivwave ND has played a role in reducing surgical infections significantly in some British Columbia hospitals over the past decade.
"What they showed was that, in decolonizing the nose, they actually reduced surgical site infections. Even though the surgery was done on the spine, in the Vancouver study, it actually reduced infections by 80 per cent,"
He added "That was the initial impetus for this investment. Now COVID has come out. They do have studies that show it has killed coronaviruses in the nose. We don't have any confirmation of any study that this is useful against COVID-19 in this clinical scenario as of right now, though," Marion said.
He said Ondine is currently conducting a number of studies specifically directed at COVID-19.
Thunder Bay Orthopedics hopes to participate in the studies.
In the meantime, the centre is developing protocols for implementing the use of nasal decolonization in preparation for its local rollout.
