Photodynamic nasal decolonization is a prophylactic technology utilizing a photosensitizer activated by light to induce photochemical reactions, which rapidly and effectively eliminate pathogens without harming human tissue. Eliminating nasal-borne pathogens before surgery significantly reduces risk of infection and pathogen transmission. We report an exploratory study performed in 35 healthy volunteers in which nasal microbial population responses were characterized over time, following photodynamic nasal decolonization (Steriwave®, Ondine Biomedical Inc., Vancouver, BC, Canada). Plate culture and 16s sequencing of nasal swab samples revealed a highly significant reduction in the number of viable bacterial cells and species immediately following treatment. Over time, the microbial population returned to its initial diversity level (24 hours) and quantitative number (48 hours). This is consistent with the design intent for a powerful, non-selective bactericidal modality allowing return to microbiome baseline less than 1-week post-treatment, thereby reducing the potential for long-term microbiome disturbances.
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