Medical technology start-up receives 2.5 million euros
The GWA hygiene is fighting hospital germs and thus reducing the risk of their spread. The company from Stralsund combines innovative medical technology with modern information technology. The NosoEx system developed by the startup has already successfully passed the practical test at 70 wards in 10 hospitals.
Germ transmission due to improper hand disinfection
GWA Hygiene offers hospitals and nursing homes a simple and technologically mature solution to significantly reduce the risk of spreading hospital germs. Between five and ten percent of all patients suffer from an infection gotten at the hospital. These infections cause 147,000 preventable deaths per year in Europe, 16 million additional hospital days and costs of around seven billion euros per year. 90 percent of the germs are transmitted through the hands. One reason for the transmission of germs is that hospital and nursing staff do not always practice hand disinfection according to the recommendations of the experts.
Monitoring of hygiene standards with the aid of sensor technology
This is where GWA technology comes in. GWA sensors on the disinfectant dispenser communicate with portable sensors of hospital personnel. The data is transmitted to a hub and can be evaluated in compliance with data protection regulations. This simplified monitoring of hand disinfection shows the connection postulated by many studies between the use of disinfectants, hand hygiene and the number of cases of contamination. Jürgen Kosch, General Partner of MIG AG explains: “The market potential of the GWA solution is significant. In Germany alone there are 664,000 hospital beds and over 900,000 care places to prevent the transmission of germs”.
Several million hand disinfections already detected in practical tests
The so-called NosoEx system developed by GWA has already passed the practical test and is used in around 70 wards in 10 hospitals. Several million hand disinfections have already been recorded. GWA is in talks with 50 other hospitals and hospital operators. A Europe-wide roll-out is also in preparation. With the capital now raised, the aim is to establish a sales organisation and to become the leading digitally-supported provider for hygiene monitoring in hospitals and nursing homes.
Dr. Anke Caßing, Investment Manager of the HTGF, says: “We are very pleased that this financing round will further advance the establishment of the NosoEx system so that hospitals will receive the tools to improve hygiene that meet their requirements. Only products that integrate easily into existing systems and processes can improve hygiene. NosoEx fulfils this requirement in an exemplary manner and has the potential to be successful in other markets as well.“
Founder and Managing Director Maik Gronau sees the successful conclusion of the financing round as confirmation of his business model: “With the new investors, we have now formed an ideal consortium that will join us in the forthcoming growth phase.“
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