Antimicrobial composition

Abstract

An aqueous composition with a higher-than-neutral pH includes a significant amount of one or more surfactants and large amounts of osmotically active solutes. This composition, as well as an acidic counterpart and solid materials, can be used in a variety of applications such as wound care, oral care, medical equipment reprocessing, healthcare acquired infection and implant treatment.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A semisolid useful for reducing bacterial contamination on skin, said semisolid comprising an organic carrier which comprises at least one of emollient and humectant and, suspended therein, an aqueous composition with a pH of greater than about 3 and less than about 4.5 which comprises ionic surfactant, said composition having a total solute concentration of at least ˜1.5 Osm/L and being free of sporicides, antifungals and antibiotics. 
     
     
         2 . The semisolid of  claim 1  wherein said aqueous solution has a total solute concentration of at least ˜1.75 Osm/L. 
     
     
         3 . The semisolid of  claim 1  wherein said ionic surfactant is cationic. 
     
     
         4 . The semisolid of  claim 1  wherein said at least one cationic surfactant is benzalkonium chloride. 
     
     
         5 . The semisolid of  claim 1  comprising more than 0.075 weight percent of said ionic surfactant. 
     
     
         6 . The semisolid of  claim 5  comprising more than 0.1 weight percent of said ionic surfactant. 
     
     
         7 . The semisolid of  claim 6  comprising more than 0.125 weight percent of said ionic surfactant. 
     
     
         8 . The semisolid of  claim 1  comprising from 0.9 to 1.7 g/L of said ionic surfactant. 
     
     
         9 . A semisolid useful for reducing bacterial contamination on skin, said semisolid comprising:
 a) an organic carrier which includes at least one of emollient and humectant, and   b) an emulsified or suspended composition having a pH of greater than about 3 and less than about 4.5 and a total solute concentration of at least ˜1.5 Osm/L that comprises
 (1) water, 
 (2) a buffer system that comprises of one or more organic acids and at least one salt of one or more organic acids, and 
 (3) more than 0.075 weight percent cationic surfactant, 
   said semisolid being free of materials having antimicrobial properties other than those provided by said composition.   
     
     
         10 . The semisolid of  claim 9  wherein said composition has a total solute concentration of at least ˜1.75 Osm/L. 
     
     
         11 . The semisolid of  claim 9  wherein said cationic surfactant comprises benzalkonium chloride. 
     
     
         12 . The semisolid of  claim 9  wherein said cationic surfactant is benzalkonium chloride. 
     
     
         13 . The semisolid of  claim 9  wherein said one or more organic acids comprise at least one polyacid. 
     
     
         14 . The semisolid of  claim 13  wherein said at least one polyacid comprises citric acid. 
     
     
         15 . The semisolid of  claim 14  wherein said at least one salt of one or more organic acids comprises a salt of a polyacid. 
     
     
         16 . The semisolid of  claim 9  wherein each of said one or more organic acids is a polyacid. 
     
     
         17 . The semisolid of  claim 9  wherein said one or more organic acids is citric acid. 
     
     
         18 . The semisolid of  claim 17  wherein said at least one salt comprises a salt of citric acid. 
     
     
         19 . The semisolid of  claim 9  wherein said at least one salt is a salt of citric acid. 
     
     
         20 . The semisolid of  claim 9  wherein said semisolid is provided as or convertible to a foam.