Aqueous antimicrobial composition

Abstract

A gel useful in reducing bacterial colonization in or around the area of a wound can be provided by combining at least one PEG with an aqueous composition having a pH of from 2 to 4, a total solute concentration of from 1.8 to 4.0 Osm/L, and from 0.9 to 1.7 g/L of at least one cationic surfactant. The aqueous composition can include a buffer system that includes an organic acid and a salt of an organic acid. The gel is effective even when free of materials having antimicrobial properties other than those provided by the aqueous composition such as sporicides, antifungals and antibiotics.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition adapted for use as the aqueous component of a gel useful in reducing bacterial colonization in or around the area of a wound, said composition being free of sporicides, antifungals and antibiotics and comprising from 0.9 to 1.7 g/L of at least one cationic surfactant, said composition having a pH of from 2 to 4 and a total solute concentration of from 1.8 to 4.0 Osm/L. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said total solute concentration is from 1.8 to 2.8 Osm/L. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said at least one cationic surfactant comprises benzalkonium chloride. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said at least one cationic surfactant is benzalkonium chloride. 
     
     
         5 . A composition adapted for use as the aqueous component of a gel useful in reducing bacterial colonization in or around the area of a wound, said aqueous composition being free of sporicides, antifungals and antibiotics and comprising from 0.9 to 1.7 g/L of at least one cationic surfactant that comprises benzalkonium chloride, said aqueous composition having a pH of from 2 to 4 and a total solute concentration of from 1.8 to 2.8 Osm/L. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5  wherein said at least one cationic surfactant is benzalkonium chloride. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 5  further comprising a buffer system that comprises one or more organic acids and at least one salt of one or more organic acids. 
     
     
         8 . A composition adapted for use as the aqueous component of a gel useful in reducing bacterial colonization in or around the area of a wound, consisting essentially of:
 a) water,   b) a buffer system that comprises of one or more organic acids and at least one salt of one or more organic acids, and   c) from 0.9 to 1.7 g/L of at least one cationic surfactant,   said composition having a pH of from 2 to 4 and a total solute concentration of from 1.8 to 4.0 Osm/L.   
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8  wherein said total solute concentration is from 1.8 to 2.8 Osm/L. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 8  wherein said at least one cationic surfactant comprises benzalkonium chloride. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 8  wherein said at least one cationic surfactant is benzalkonium chloride. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 8  wherein said one or more organic acids comprise at least one polyacid. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12  wherein said at least one polyacid comprises citric acid. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 13  wherein said at least one salt of one or more organic acids comprises a salt of a polyacid. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 8  wherein each of said one or more organic acids is a polyacid. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 15  wherein each of said at least one salt of one or more organic acids is a salt of a polyacid. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 8  wherein said one or more organic acids is citric acid. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 17  wherein said at least one salt comprises a salt of citric acid. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 8  wherein said at least one salt is a salt of citric acid. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 8  wherein said one or more organic acids is acetic acid.