Methods of reducing microbial contamination

Abstract

Methods of delaying the onset of an infection or preventing an infection caused by a microbial organism in an internal cavity of a subject are provided. Methods of killing or inactivating microorganisms in at least a portion of the urethra of a subject are provided.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method of disinfecting nasal tissue of a subject comprising:
 applying an antiseptic composition directly to the nasal tissue in the nasal cavity of the subject,   allowing the antiseptic composition to remain on the nasal tissue for at least 30 min, wherein the antiseptic composition comprises:
 an antimicrobial agent chosen from iodine, an iodophor, and combinations thereof, wherein the antimicrobial agent is present in an amount sufficient to provide an available iodine concentration of at least about 0.25 wt-%; water; 
 a surfactant, 
   wherein the antiseptic composition is buffered and has a pH of less than 5.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the antiseptic composition comprises a povidone-iodine composition. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the antiseptic composition achieves greater than 1 microbial log reduction in 30 min when tested according to urethral model antimicrobial efficacy test. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the antiseptic composition achieves a microbial log reduction of at least 2 in 10 min against  Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 33953 when tested according to model antimicrobial efficacy test. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the antiseptic composition maintains a residual antimicrobial efficacy against  Staphylococcus aureus  ATCC33953 when tested on a forearm of a volunteer having an average log reduction of at least 1 log after 1 hour of application. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the antiseptic composition achieves at least a 3 log reduction after 10 min against  Staphylococcus aureus  ATCC33953 when tested according to the antimicrobial efficacy test. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the surfactant is a non-ionic surfactant. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the non-ionic surfactant is a polyethoxylated surfactant chosen from ethoxylated fatty acids, ethoxylated aliphatic acids, ethoxylated fatty alcohols, ethoxylated propoxylated aliphatic alcohols, and ethoxylated glycerides. 
     
     
         27 . The method of the previous claim wherein the ethoxylated alcohol is selected from octyl phenoxy polyethoxyethanol, nonyl phenoxy poly(ethyleneoxy)ethanol 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the antiseptic composition is applied at least 1 cm into the nasal cavity. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the antiseptic composition is applied at least 2 cm into the nasal cavity. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the antiseptic composition is provided in a collapsible container. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the antiseptic composition is provided in a collapsible container comprising a barrier material. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the antiseptic composition is provided in a collapsible container comprising an aluminum foil laminate. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the antiseptic composition is applied using an applicator. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the antiseptic composition further comprises a thickener. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the thickener is a modified cellulose. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the thickener is a hydroxyethyl cellulose. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the antiseptic composition has a viscosity greater than 100 cps when tested according to the Viscosity Test. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein the antiseptic composition has a viscosity greater than 1,000 cps when tested according to the Viscosity Test.