Scottish NHS hospital adopts light-activated therapy to reduce surgical infections
pharmafile | August 6, 2026 | News story | |Â Â light-activated therapy, nhs scotland, surgical infectionsÂ
NHS Golden Jubilee has become the first hospital in Scotland to introduce a light-activated nasal therapy designed to reduce the risk of surgical site infections (SSIs) in patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery.
The hospital, which performs around 30% of all hip and knee replacements in Scotland, has incorporated Steriwave nasal photodisinfection into its pre-operative care pathway. The treatment replaces traditional multi-day nasal decolonisation regimes with a single five-minute procedure administered by a nurse immediately before surgery.
Surgical site infections remain a significant complication of joint replacement procedures, increasing the risk of revision surgery, prolonged hospital stays and higher healthcare costs. UK research suggests that treating a prosthetic joint infection can cost the NHS more than £33,000 per patient over five years.
Steriwave, developed by Ondine Biomedical and distributed in the UK by Mölnlycke Health Care, uses a light-sensitive solution activated by red light to eliminate bacteria, viruses and fungi in the nasal cavity without relying on antibiotics.
Professor Christopher Gee, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at NHS Golden Jubilee, said: “By integrating nasal photodisinfection into our infection-prevention bundle, we offer an efficient, nurse-led solution that enhances patient outcomes and optimises healthcare resources.”
The technology targets pathogens that commonly colonise the nose and are a recognised source of post-operative infections. Because the treatment is non-antibiotic, the company says it may also help reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistance.
Carolyn Cross, CEO of Ondine Biomedical, said: “In high-volume elective surgery, every infection prevented protects both patients and capacity.”
Steriwave is already in use in hospitals in Canada and England for infection prevention in surgical patients and intensive care settings. NHS Golden Jubilee said its adoption supports wider efforts to increase elective surgery capacity while improving patient outcomes.
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