High Osmolarity Antimicrobial Composition Containing One or More Organic Solvents

Abstract

A composition that can solvate biofilms and disrupt bacterial cell walls acts to both kill the bacteria by cell lysis and remove the biofilm. This solvent-containing composition is effective against a broad spectrum of microbes and can be used on a variety of surfaces, both living and inanimate. The polarity of the solvent component of the composition is lower than that of pure water so that the composition exhibits increased efficacy in solvating the macromolecular matrix of a biofilm and in penetrating bacterial cell walls.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A liquid composition useful for cleansing a surgical site upon introduction thereto, said composition consisting of
 (1) a solvent component exhibiting a δ p  value of from 13.7 to 15.4 MPa 1/2  that consists of water and one or more C 1 -C 16  acyclic alcohols; and   (2) a solute component that comprises cationic surfactant and dissociation products of at least one monoprotic organic acid and a buffer precursor,   said composition having a pH of greater than about 3 but less than 5.0 and an effective solute concentration of from 1 to 2.33 Osm/L.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  having a pH of less than 4.6. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2  having a pH of less than 4.4. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3  having a pH of less than 4.2. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said one or more C 1 -C 16  acyclic alcohols comprises ethanol. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5  wherein said one or more C 1 -C 16  acyclic alcohols is ethanol. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said at least one monoprotic organic acid comprises acetic acid. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7  wherein said at least one monoprotic organic acid is acetic acid. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 7  wherein said buffer precursor is at least one salt of at least one monoprotic organic acid. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9  wherein said salt is an acetate. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1  having an effective solute concentration of at least 1.5 Osm/L. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 11  having an effective solute concentration of at least 1.75 Osm/L. 
     
     
         13 . A surgical site cleanser consisting of
 (1) a solvent component exhibiting a δ p  value of from 13.7 to 15.4 MPa 1/2  that consists of water and ethanol; and   (2) a solute component that consists of cationic surfactant and dissociation products of at least one monoprotic organic acid and a buffer precursor,   said cleanser having a pH of greater than about 3 but less than 4.4 and an effective solute concentration of from 1 to 2.33 Osm/L.   
     
     
         14 . The cleanser of  claim 13  wherein said at least one monoprotic organic acid is acetic acid. 
     
     
         15 . The cleanser of  claim 14  wherein said buffer precursor is an acetate. 
     
     
         16 . The cleanser of  claim 13  having an effective solute concentration of at least 1.5 Osm/L. 
     
     
         17 . The cleanser of  claim 16  having an effective solute concentration of at least 1.75 Osm/L. 
     
     
         18 . A liquid wash composition for reducing microbial contamination during surgery, said liquid wash composition consisting of
 (1) a solvent component exhibiting a δ p  value of from 13.7 to 15.4 MPa 1/2  that consists of water and ethanol; and   (2) a solute component that consists of cationic surfactant and dissociation products of acetic acid and a buffer precursor,   said composition having a pH of greater than about 3 but less than 4.4 and an effective solute concentration of at least 1.5 Osm/L.   
     
     
         19 . The liquid wash composition of  claim 18  wherein said buffer precursor is an acetate. 
     
     
         20 . The liquid wash composition of  claim 18  having an effective solute concentration of at least 1.75 Osm/L.