Antimicrobial Compositions And Uses Thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to an antimicrobial composition having activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The composition is a) a composition comprising at least two organic acids selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, acetic acid, benzoic acid and citric acid; b) a composition comprising at least two bacteriocin selected from the group consisting of pediocin, Nisin and reuterin; c) a composition comprising pediocin and at least two organic acids selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, acetic acid, benzoic acid and citric acid; or d) a composition comprising reuterin and at least one organic acid selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, acetic acid, benzoic acid and citric acid. The present invention also relates to the use of said compositions for sanitizing and/or disinfecting surfaces and method thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An antimicrobial composition which is:
 a composition comprising reuterin,-lactic acid and citric acid, wherein the reuterin, the citric acid and the lactic acid are present in synergistic amounts; or   a composition comprising pediocin and reuterin, wherein the pediocin and the reuterin are present in synergistic amounts.   
     
     
         2 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial composition has an antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. 
     
     
         3 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 2 , wherein the Gram-positive bacteria is  Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes  Scott 3,  Corynebacterium, Streptococcus  M3,  Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus  sp, or  Clostridium difficile.    
     
     
         4 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 2 , wherein the Gram-negative bacteria is  Aeromonas, Escherichia coli  O157:H7,  Escheria coli, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Serratia marcescens, Salmonella  sp,  Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Pseudomonas euroginosa, Erwinia, Yersinia enterocolitica  or  Aeromonas Hydrophila.    
     
     
         5 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1 , wherein the citric acid is present in an amount from about 0.25 to 20% by weight or volume, wherein the lactic acid is present in an amount from about 0.125 to 10% by weight or volume and wherein the reuterin is present in an amount from about 1.6 to 128 AU/ml. 
     
     
         6 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 5 , wherein the citric acid is present in an amount of about 0.25% by weight or volume, wherein the lactic acid is present in an amount of about 0.125% by weight or volume and wherein the reuterin is present in an amount of about 1.6 AU/ml. 
     
     
         7 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 5 , wherein the citric acid is present in an amount of about 20% by weight or volume, wherein the lactic acid is present in an amount of about 10% by weight or volume and wherein the reuterin is present in an amount of about 128 AU/ml. 
     
     
         8 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a surfactant. 
     
     
         9 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1  in form of a foam, ointment, gel, liquid, spray or powder. 
     
     
         10 . A cellulosic substrate comprising the antimicrobial composition as defined in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A food packaging comprising the antimicrobial composition as defined in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . The food packaging of  claim 11 , wherein the food packaging is a film, resin, liner, absorbent pad, plastic, shrink bag, shrink wrap, plastic wrap, Styrofoam™, carton, or cellulosic substrate. 
     
     
         13 . A method for sanitizing and/or disinfecting a surface, comprising applying an effective antimicrobial amount of the antimicrobial composition as defined in  claim 1  to the surface. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the surface is the surface of an object, food, food plant, a body part or a food packaging. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the food packaging is a film, resin, liner, absorbent pad, plastic, shrink bag, shrink wrap, plastic wrap, Styrofoam™, carton, or cellulosic substrate.