Ondine Biomedical is excited to announce that Fraser Health will launch a pilot program at Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre using MRSAid Photodisinfection technology to reduce Surgical Site Infections. Fraser Health at Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre becomes the second Canadian Health institution to launch a pilot program using MRSAid Photodisinfection technology to reduce surgical site infections. The cooperative efforts between Ondine Biomedical and the Crystal Gala Foundation, with the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation will allow for the preventative treatment of major surgery patients, including those for cancer, with expectations of lower surgical site outcomes, reduced number of days in hospital care and overall cost saving for hospitals.

The setup of the Pilot Project will be guided by renowned specialist Dr. Peter Blair, Program Medical Director, Surgical Services at Fraser Health. Dr. Blair is a long time crusader in innovative techniques to reduce Hospital Acquired Infections and the improvement of patient care and safety.

MRSAid photodisinfection, a non-antibiotic system for nasal bacterial decolonization, was used in a similar pilot program conducted over the course of 12 months at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) with significant results in reducing surgical site infections (SSIs) by 39 per cent. Under this innovative pilot project, patients undergoing major surgeries at VGH, including cardiac, spinal, orthopedic, thoracic, vascular, breast reconstruction, and neurological surgeries, were treated with MRSAid nasal decolonization therapy prior to surgery. Photodisinfection therapy significantly decreased a patient’s load of Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Methicillin sensitive staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) on their skin and in their nasal cavity. The successful pilot was the first of its kind and has saved the Vancouver General Hospital an estimated $1.9 million in costs associated with treating patients who develop SSIs.

MRSAid is now standard of care for major surgery patients at VGH. Discussions are underway with other Canadian hospitals.

Ondine Biomedical is developing non-antibiotic therapies for the treatment of a broad spectrum of bacterial, fungal and viral infections. The Company is focused on developing leading edge products utilizing its patented light-activated non-thermal technology, primarily for the healthcare-associated infection (HAI) market. Please contact us at http://www.ondinebio.com or http://www.ondineblog.com.

Fraser Health is dedicated to improving the health of the population and the quality of life of the people they serve. Learn more at: http://www.fraserhealth.ca

The Crystal Gala Foundation is based in Abbotsford, BC and is made up of a group of dynamic women with one goal in mind: raise money to help promote and achieve breast health and support the women, men and families who suffer the effects of breast cancer. http://www.crystalgala.com/