Compositions for Treating Biofilms and Methods for Using Same

Abstract

Compositions containing a surface active agent and a sub-lethal amount of an antimicrobial agent and methods for using such compositions are provided herein.

1 . A method for treating a microbial biofilm on a patient comprising contacting the microbial biofilm with a composition comprising a surface active agent and a sub-lethal amount of an antimicrobial agent. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial agent is selected from an antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial agent is selected from furaltadone, furazolium chloride, nifuradene, nifuratel, nifurfoline, nifurpirinol, nifurprazine, nifurtoinol, nitrofurantoin, furazolidone, 2-(methoxymethyl)-5-nitrofuran, nidroxyzone, nifuroxime, nifurazide, nitrofurazone, nystatin, polymyxin, silver sulfadiazine, nanocrystalline silver, ionic silver, honey, iodine, benzalkonium chloride, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a sub-lethal amount of an antimicrobial agent is a standard therapeutically effective amount. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial agent is silver sulfadiazine and the sub-lethal amount is less than about 1% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial agent is silver sulfadiazine and the sub-lethal amount is less than about 0.95% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial agent is silver sulfadiazine and the sub-lethal amount is less than about 0.75% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surface active agent is selected from a poloxamer, meroxapol, poloxamine and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surface active agent is selected from a poloxamer 127, poloxamer 188, poloxamer 237, poloxamer 335, poloxamer 407 and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surface active agent is poloxamer 188. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein contacting the microbial biofilm comprises applying the composition to a wound. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein contacting the microbial biofilm comprises administering the composition topically. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein administering the composition topically is selected from administering by hand, administering by an extruder, spray delivery, applying a dressing including the composition and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein contacting the microbial biofilm comprises contacting tissue from the patient that is outside the patient. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein contacting comprises applying the composition to a dressing prior to applying the dressing to the patient. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the patient is afflicted with an injury. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the injury is selected from a burn, abrasion, cut, scrape, denuding tissue injury and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the patient is afflicted with a chronic wound. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein chronic wound is selected from a venous ulcer, diabetic ulcer, arterial ulcer, pressure ulcer, radiation ulcer, traumatic wound, non-healing wound and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A method for treating or preventing a microbial biofilm in a patient comprising:
 administering a first composition comprising a surface active agent to an injury wherein the first composition does not contain an antimicrobial agent; and   administering a second composition comprising a surface active agent and a sub-lethal amount of an antimicrobial agent to the injury;   wherein the first composition is administered before the second composition.   
     
     
         37 - 77 . (canceled)