Antimicrobial composition and methods of making and using same

Abstract

An aqueous composition adapted to kill bacteria in both planktonic and biofilm states is lethal toward a wide spectrum of gram positive and gram negative bacteria as well as other microbes. The composition, which is slightly to moderately acidic, includes a significant amount of one or more surfactants and large amounts of osmotically active solutes. The composition can be applied directly to a site of bacterial growth. Even when the bacteria is in biofilm form, the surfactant component(s) begin to kill the bacteria before the macro-molecular matrix is removed or dislodged from the site.

1 . An antimicrobial composition adapted for use against bacteria in a biofilm that includes a macromolecular matrix, said composition consisting essentially of
 a) water,   b) dissociation product of one or more organic acids, and   c) at least 1% by weight, based on the total weight of said composition, of one or more surfactants,   
     said composition having an osmolarity of at least 3 Osm and a pH of no more than 6.5. 
   
   
       2 . A method for treating a surface bearing an entrenched biofilm that includes bacteria in a macromolecular matrix, said method comprising:
 a) applying to the portion of said surface bearing said biofilm a composition that comprises
 1) water, 
 2) dissociation product of one or more organic acids, 
 3) at least 1% by weight of one or more surfactants based on the total weight of said composition, and 
 4) optionally, dissociation product of a salt of an organic acid, and 
   b) allowing said surfactant to disrupt cell walls of said bacteria so that said bacteria are killed while still in said biofilm,   
     said method resulting in at least a 3 log reduction in the number of live bacteria after a residence time of 5 minutes.