Compositions and methods for treating nail infections

Abstract

A method of treating bacterial or fungal nail infections may include mixing an antibiotic or antifungal injectable medication and a diluent to formulate a topical nail composition. The topical nail composition may be administered directly to a nail affected by the bacterial or fungal infection.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a bacterial nail infection, comprising:
 mixing colistimethate and sodium chloride solution to formulate a topical nail composition, wherein the topical nail composition is an aqueous solution or suspension;   topical applying the topical nail composition directly to a nail affected by a bacterial infection to treat the bacterial infection of the nail; and   pre-treating the nail prior to applying the topical nail composition to the nail, wherein pre-treating the nail comprises topically applying a pre-treatment solution containing a NSAID and DMSO to the nail.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein mixing the colistimethate and the sodium chloride solution comprises mixing the sodium chloride solution with Colistimethate for Injection USP. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the topical nail composition comprises approximately 1% to approximately 20% colistimethate by weight. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises mixing urea with the sodium chloride solution and colistimethate. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the urea is mixed in an amount to obtain between 1% and 30% urea by weight of the topical nail composition. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the colistimethate is mixed with the sodium chloride solution in an amount wherein the topical nail composition comprises approximately 1% to approximately 20% colistimethate by weight. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein mixing the colistimethate and the sodium chloride solution comprises mixing Colistimethate for Injection USP with the sodium chloride solution in an amount wherein the topical nail composition comprises approximately 1% to approximately 20% colistimethate by weight. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the DMSO is present in an amount between 25% and 50% by weight of the pre-treatment solution, wherein the NSAID comprises diclofenac, and wherein the diclofenac is present in an amount between 0.05% and 5% by weight of the pre-treatment solution. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising mixing at least one additional active agent to formulate the topical nail composition selected from an antibiotic, antifungal, or NSAID. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pre-treatment solution comprises the NSAID diclofenac. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the colistimethate is mixed with the sodium chloride solution in an amount wherein the topical nail composition comprises approximately 1% to approximately 20% colistimethate by weight. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising mixing urea, wherein the urea is mixed with the colistimethate and sodium chloride solution in an amount wherein the topical nail composition comprises between 1% and 20% urea by weight, and wherein the pre-treatment solution comprises between 25% and 50% DMSO and between 0.05% and 5% diclofenac by weight. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the DMSO is present in an amount between 25% and 50% by weight of the pre-treatment solution, wherein the NSAID comprises diclofenac, and wherein the diclofenac is present in an amount between 0.05% and 5% by weight of the pre-treatment solution. 
     
     
         14 . A method of treating a bacterial nail infection, the method comprising:
 topically applying a topical nail composition directly to a nail affected by a bacterial infection to treat the bacterial infection of the nail; and   pre-treating the nail prior to applying, the topical nail composition to the nail, wherein pre-treating the nail comprises topically applying a pre-treatment solution containing a NSAID and DMSO to the nail, and   wherein the topical nail composition comprises an aqueous solution or suspension comprising between 1% and 20% colistimethate by weight and a sodium chloride solution.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the topical nail composition further comprises between 1% and 30% urea by weight. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the NSAID is diclofenac and the topical nail composition comprises between 1% and 3% diclofenac by weight. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the DMSO is present in an amount between 25% and 50% by weight of the pre-treatment solution, wherein the NSAID comprises diclofenac, and wherein the diclofenac is present in an amount between 0.05% and 5% by weight of the pre-treatment solution.