78% Reduction in Infection Rates Using Ondine's Nasal Photodisinfection Therapy at Leading Canadian Healthcare Facilities

VANCOUVER, BC, March 04, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Ondine Biomedical Inc. announced that its antimicrobial Photodisinfection technology was recommended for routine use of surgical site infection prevention due to its efficacy and cost effectiveness. This recommendation was made as a result of analysis of data collected from Vancouver General Hospital and UBC Hospital during 2009-2017 for spine surgeries.

Findings were presented at the 2019 Canadian Spine Society Annual Conference in Toronto, in an abstract titled "Efficacy and Cost-Effectiveness of Photodynamic Therapy in Prevention of Surgical Site Infections". The study team led by Drs. John Street, Titus Wong, Daniel Banaszek, Tom Inglis and Vancouver Spine Institute program surgeons, analyzed data from an 8-year evaluation of Ondine's nasal photodisinfection technology in complex and high-risk spine surgery patients. Deployment of a universal pre-surgical bundle including nasal decolonization resulted in reduction of spine surgical site infection rates from 7.2% to 1.6% (78% reduction, p<0.01, NNT=18). Study authors estimated 53 infections were avoided per year, at an annual cost savings of $4.24 million. Use of nasal photodisinfection was not associated with any adverse events.

"This study reaffirms our original findings showing a significant reduction in surgical site infections in spine patients. This new data demonstrates that the efficacy is greatest in complex and high-risk patients," stated Dr. John Street, a Director of the Complex Spine Program, Vancouver Coastal Health. "The combined pre-operative therapy of nasal photodisinfection and chlorhexidine skin decolonization is a cost-effective component of our overall risk reduction strategy, helping us to provide the best evidence-based patient care."

"We are extremely pleased with these results and abstract conclusions. It is rewarding to know that our antimicrobial Photodisinfection technology helped to prevent so many life-threatening surgical site infections, for patients of the Vancouver Coastal Healthcare system," stated Jason Hickok, VP, Clinical & Medical Affairs. "The recommendation to adopt routine use of nasal Photodisinfection for prevention of surgical site infections demonstrates the highest level of confidence in our technology."

About Ondine's Nasal Photodisinfection Therapy

Ondine's Health Canada-approved nasal photodisinfection therapy is a patented, first-in-class, light-activated antimicrobial therapy developed to eradicate a broad spectrum of nasal pathogens without promoting antibiotic resistance, including the 'superbug' methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), fungi and viruses.

About Post-Surgical Site Infections

Surgical site infections (SSI's) account for 15% of all hospital acquired infections and contribute substantially to morbidity and mortality each year. Up to 5% of all surgical patients will develop an SSI in hospital, often resulting from Staphylococcus aureus infection. In many cases this virulent pathogen exhibits multidrug resistance making treatment increasingly difficult. The evolution of antimicrobial resistance stems from the widespread use of antibiotics including inappropriate use in viral and non-susceptible infections. Existing approaches to eliminating nasal bacteria rely on expensive testing prior to surgery and/or prolonged antibiotic therapies. Ondine's photodisinfection therapy requires only minutes to deploy, does not induce antibiotic resistance and minimizes the need for patient compliance.

About Ondine Biomedical Inc.

Ondine Biomedical Inc. is dedicated to the development of non-antibiotic, anti-infective therapies for a broad-spectrum of bacterial, viral and fungal infections. Ondine's antimicrobial program utilizes a platform technology called photodisinfection, a light-activated approach developed to provide rapid antimicrobial efficacy and reduced risk of antibiotic resistance. Over 70 patents in 21 patent families have been granted or are pending covering various aspects of the technology. Ondine's flagship nasal photodisinfection system has been deployed in Canada for several years. Other applications of the photodisinfection platform are under development, including Sinuwave (TM) for treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis, and Exelume (TM), designed to reduce the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).

About Vancouver Coastal Health

Vancouver Coastal Health is a world-class innovator in medical care, research, and teaching. Delivering healthcare services to more than one million BC residents, VCH operates in Vancouver, Vancouver's North Shore, Richmond, the Sea-to-Sky area, Sunshine Coast, Bella Bella, and Bella Coola.

Contact Ondine Biomedical Inc.
http://www.ondinebio.com
Angelika Vance | 1.604.838.2702 | [email protected]

SOURCE Ondine Biomedical Inc.