HCA Healthcare UK, has approved the Steriwave® light-activated antimicrobial developed by Ondine Biomedical Inc. for use in its healthcare facilities to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and reduce the use of antibiotics. HCA Healthcare is the larger private healthcare provider in the world, and one of the leading private healthcare providers in the UK, where it operates over 30 healthcare facilities. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing concern for healthcare providers around the world, particularly in the prevention and treatment of HAIs.

Steriwave is a light-activated antimicrobial with a distinct mechanism of action from traditional antibiotics, allowing it to be used without fear of generating AMR. Its broad-spectrum efficacy destroys bacteria, viruses, and fungi in a single, 5-minute treatment. Steriwave has already been successfully used in a small patient population in HCA Healthcare UK hospitals, but this approval will allow additional hospitals and healthcare facilities to adopt the technology more widely at the discretion of the clinician.