LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - Ondine Biomedical announced on Friday that it has received regulatory approval to market its 'Steriwave' nasal decolonisation technology in the United Arab Emirates.

The AIM-traded firm said the light-activated antimicrobial treatment was designed to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in surgical patients.

It said the UAE, with its growing population of 9.4 million and status as a hub for medical tourism, represented a significant new market for Ondine's technology.

HAIs - a major global healthcare challenge - result in high costs and increased mortality, particularly in post-surgical settings, Ondine noted.

It said Steriwave offered a rapid, five-minute treatment that eliminates pathogens without giving them time to develop resistance, providing an effective alternative to antibiotics.

The technology had reportedly proven highly effective against drug-resistant pathogens, including moderately and extensively drug-resistant strains.

Steriwave's approval in the UAE followed recommendations from global health bodies including the WHO and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, which advocated nasal decolonisation for major surgeries to prevent surgical site infections.

"We are looking forward to bringing the infection-reducing benefits of Steriwave nasal decolonisation to the United Arab Emirates and other Middle Eastern markets," said chief executive officer Carolyn Cross.

"We believe that adding Steriwave to current presurgical and ICU protocols can help these countries to address the growing threat from antimicrobial resistant infections in hospitals."

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.

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