Non-Absorbent Articles Containing Additives for Inhibiting the Production of TSST-1

Abstract

Non-absorbent articles, such as tampon applicators, containing an additive are disclosed. The non-absorbent articles include an effective amount of an inhibitory compound, such as thiolactomycin or thiomalonate, for example, to substantially inhibit the production of TSST-1 or exoprotein by Gram positive bacteria.

1 . A tampon applicator comprising a non-absorbent substrate, an effective amount of a first active ingredient and an effective amount of a second active ingredient, the first active ingredient having a general formula:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein: R 300  is, when present, selected from hydrogen and substituted or unsubstituted alkyl; R 301  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a monovalent, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl moiety, and when R 300  is not present, a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbenyl moiety; R 302  is selected from hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl; and, R 303  is selected from hydrogen, hydroxy, and alkoxy, the second active ingredient having a general formula: 
         R 10 —O—R 11   (IV) 
       wherein R 10  is a straight or branched alkyl or straight or branched alkenyl having from 8 to about 18 carbon atoms and R 11  is selected from the group consisting of an alcohol, a polyalkoxylated sulfate salt and a polyalkoxylated sulfosuccinate salt, and wherein the first active ingredient and the second active ingredient are effective in substantially inhibiting the production of TSST-1 from Gram positive bacteria.  
     
     
         2 . The tampon applicator as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the first active ingredient is thiolactomycin.  
     
     
         3 . The tampon applicator as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the first active ingredient is present in an amount of from about 0.05 micromoles/gram of non-absorbent substrate to about 5 micromoles/gram of non-absorbent substrate, and the second active ingredient is present in an amount of at least about 0.1 micromoles per gram of non-absorbent substrate.  
     
     
         4 . The tampon applicator as set forth in  claim 1  wherein R 10  is a straight or branched alkyl group.  
     
     
         5 . The tampon applicator as set forth in  claim 1  wherein R 10  is a straight or branched alkenyl group.  
     
     
         6 . The tampon applicator as set forth in  claim 1  wherein R 10  is obtained from the group consisting of caprylic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid.  
     
     
         7 . The tampon applicator as set forth in  claim 1  wherein R 11  is an aliphatic alcohol.  
     
     
         8 . The tampon applicator as set forth in  claim 7  wherein R 11  is an aliphatic alcohol selected from the group consisting of glycerol, glycol, sucrose, glucose, sorbitol, and sorbitan.  
     
     
         9 . The tampon applicator as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the second active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of laureth-3, laureth-4, laureth-5, PPG-5 lauryl ether, 1-0-dodecyl-rac-glycerol, sodium laureth sulfate, potassium laureth sulfate, disodium laureth (3) sulfosuccinate, dipotassium laureth (3) sulfosuccinate and polyethylene oxide (2) sorbitol ether.  
     
     
         10 . The tampon applicator as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the first active ingredient and the second active ingredient are effective in substantially inhibiting the production of TSST-1 from  Staphylococcus aureus  bacteria.  
     
     
         11 . A non-absorbent article comprising a non-absorbent substrate, an effective amount of a first active ingredient, and an effective amount of a second active ingredient, the first active ingredient having a general formula:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein: R 300  is, when present, selected from hydrogen and substituted or unsubstituted alkyl; R 301  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a monovalent, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl moiety, and when R 300  is not present, a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbenyl moiety; R 302  is selected from hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl; and, R 303  is selected from hydrogen, hydroxy, and alkoxy, the second active ingredient having a general formula: 
         R 10 —O—R 11   (IV) 
       wherein R 10  is a straight or branched alkyl or straight or branched alkenyl having from 8 to about 18 carbon atoms and R 11  is selected from the group consisting of an alcohol, a polyalkoxylated sulfate salt and a polyalkoxylated sulfosuccinate salt, wherein the first active ingredient and the second active ingredient are effective in substantially inhibiting the production of TSST-1 from Gram positive bacteria, and wherein the non-absorbent article is selected from the group consisting of non-absorbent incontinence devices, barrier birth control devices, and douches.  
     
     
         12 . The tampon applicator as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the first active ingredient is thiolactomycin.  
     
     
         13 . The tampon applicator as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the first active ingredient is present in an amount of from about 0.05 micromoles/gram of non-absorbent substrate to about 5 micromoles/gram of non-absorbent substrate, and the second active ingredient is present in an amount of at least about 0.1 micromoles per gram of non-absorbent substrate.  
     
     
         14 . The tampon applicator as set forth in  claim 11  wherein R 10  is a straight or branched alkyl group.  
     
     
         15 . The tampon applicator as set forth in  claim 11  wherein R 10  is a straight or branched alkenyl group.  
     
     
         16 . The tampon applicator as set forth in  claim 11  wherein R 10  is obtained from the group consisting of caprylic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid.  
     
     
         17 . The tampon applicator as set forth in  claim 11  wherein R 11  is an aliphatic alcohol.  
     
     
         18 . The tampon applicator as set forth in  claim 17  wherein R 11  is an aliphatic alcohol selected from the group consisting of glycerol, glycol, sucrose, glucose, sorbitol, and sorbitan.  
     
     
         19 . The tampon applicator as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the second active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of laureth-3, laureth-4, laureth-5, PPG-5 lauryl ether, 1-0-dodecyl-rac-glycerol, sodium laureth sulfate, potassium laureth sulfate, disodium laureth (3) sulfosuccinate, dipotassium laureth (3) sulfosuccinate and polyethylene oxide (2) sorbitol ether.  
     
     
         20 . The tampon applicator as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the first active ingredient and the second active ingredient are effective in substantially inhibiting the production of TSST-1 from  Staphylococcus aureus  bacteria.