Steriwave ICU Pilot Study

Steriwave ICU Pilot Study

This is a single-center, non-blinded, prospective, pilot study enrolling patients admitted to the critical care unit at Royal Columbian Hospital. This study investigates the effects of universal nasal decolonization using antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) on the prevention of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), ventilator-acquired pneumonia (VAP), and hospital-acquired bloodstream infection (BSI) in this patient population.

Main Objectives include:

• To determine whether a large, multi-center RCT of this protocol is feasible
• To determine baseline rates of VAP, HAP, and ICU-acquired BSI
• To gather preliminary efficacy data regarding VAP, HAP, and ICU-acquired BSI prevention using universal aPDT nasal decolonization
• To gather preliminary microbiological data on the effect of universal aPDT procedures on nasal carriage of various microoganisms in ICU patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• All ICU patients 19 years and above
• Expected length of ICU stay >48 hrs

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant/breastfeeding individuals
• Allergy to methylene blue and/or chlorhexidine gluconate, or unknown allergy status
• Nasal or facial trauma that limits access to the nose
• Inability for the patients to tolerate or comply with treatment, as determined by their treating physician
• Patient, TSDM or MRP declines participation
• Co-enrolment with other research studies will be considered in an individual basis.