Assessing the Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy for Preventing Surgical Site Infections

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Surgery, Nasal Disease, Light; Therapy, Complications

In brief

This is a randomised, unblinded interventional device proof of concept pilot trial in which patients undergoing nasal surgery will be selected for either photodisinfection therapy (PDT) with the Steriwave™ ND System, or control with nares swabbed with 'photosensitizer formulation' preoperatively. This trial will primarily assess the safety and efficacy of nasal photodisinfection treatment in decreasing post-operative events in patients undergoing nasal surgery. After signing informed consent, and before surgery, participants will receive a baseline culture of the anterior nares to determine nasal bacterial colonization and will have a flexible nasendoscopy to determine their Lund-Kennedy (LK) endoscopic score. Subjects will then be randomised to nasal PDT (which includes two applications of 'photosensitizer formulation' \[0.01% methylene blue with 0.25% chlorhexidine solution\], two minutes apart), along with light therapy, or control with nares swabbed twice with 'photosensitizer formulation' with two minutes in between (no light therapy). Following treatment, participants will be re-cultured (2 weeks after the surgery ± 7 days) and reviewed for antibiotic use and surgical site infection (SSI) using LK endoscopic scoring. At 30 days, all participants will be followed up by telephone to review if they received antibiotics for presumed postoperative infection. Standard post-operative care will be provided according to the type of surgery performed. Any required interventions post-operatively will be documented.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT06731881
Run by: Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
People needed: 80
Starts: 2025-06-04
Expected to finish: 2026-06-30
Last updated by the study team: 2026-06-11

Who can join

Age: 16 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

Patients ≥ 16 years
Patients scheduled to undergo elective:
Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (ESS) with or without adjunctive Septoplasty and/or Turbinoplasty
Septoplasty with or without adjunctive Turbinoplasty
Closed Septoplasty with or without adjunctive Turbinoplasty
Judged by the Investigator as suitable for participation in the study without safety concerns based on medical history and physical examination
Willing and able to provide written informed consent prior to participation in the clinical investigation
Willing and able to comply with all study related procedures

You may not qualify if…

• Patients undergoing open septorhinoplasty, anterior or septal biopsies, or post cautery
Congenital or acquired immunodeficiency, bone marrow disease, diabetes, autoimmune conditions requiring immunosuppressive treatment, any immunosuppressive medication at the time of consent or within the last 4 weeks before randomisation
Primary or secondary ciliary dyskinesia, cystic fibrosis
Patients who have received antibiotics within a week before randomisation
Patients who receive prophylactic antibiotics or antibiotics prior to discharge
Systemic steroid treatment less than 4 weeks before randomisation
History of frequent nose bleeds, or a condition that increases the risk of excessive bleeding
Undergoing active cancer treatment at time of consent/ or planning to start cancer treatment within trial period or completed cancer treatment within the last 4 weeks
Any disease, condition (medical or surgical), or drug or alcohol abuse, which, in the opinion of the investigator, might compromise the study results, or would place the patient at increased risk of infection
Previously treated with radiation on the face, head, or neck regions
Female patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding at the time of consent
Received a study drug in a clinical trial for an investigational drug within the previous 30 days from consent, or 5 half-lives, whichever is longer
Used antimicrobial wash or wipes within 7 days of randomisation or during the study period
Patients with allergies / hypersensitivity to methylene blue, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), or to chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG)

Where it is running

Guy's Hospital — London, London, United Kingdom (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.