Antimicrobial Compositions and Methods For Reducing Microbial Contamination

Abstract

The invention relates to the fields of microbiology and health care, in particular to means and methods for minimizing the spread of hospital-acquired (HA) infections e.g. between patients and healthcare workers. Provided is an antimicrobial composition comprising an antimicrobial agent, a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier material and a polymer, the polymer being an N-vinyl lactam copolymer, and the composition being capable of forming a slow release antimicrobial film when applied to a skin surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An antimicrobial composition comprising an antimicrobial agent, a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier material, and an N-vinyl lactam copolymer, wherein said copolymer is obtainable by solution polymerization of vinyl pyrrolidone monomer units (A) and hydrophobically derivatized maleate monomer units (B) of the following general formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         Wherein
 R 1  and R 2  are each independently hydrogen or methyl, 
 R 3  and R 4  are each independently selected from hydrogen, and linear and branched C6-C20 alkyl groups, with the exception that both R 3  and R 4  are hydrogen, 
 
         wherein said polymerization comprises the continuously feeding of a monomer mixture comprising about 70-90 weight % of monomer (A) and about 10-30 weight % of monomer (B), over a predetermined period of time to the reaction mixture. 
       
     
     
         2 . The antimicrobial composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said monomer mixture comprises 75-90 weight %, of monomer (A) and about 10-25 weight % of monomer (B). 
     
     
         3 . The antimicrobial composition according to  claim 1 , wherein R 3  and R 4  are each independently selected from hydrogen, linear and branched C6-C12 alkyl groups. 
     
     
         4 . The antimicrobial composition according to  claim 1 , wherein R 3  and R 4  are each independently selected from hydrogen, linear and branched C10-C20 alkyl groups. 
     
     
         5 . The antimicrobial composition according to  claim 1 , wherein both R 3  and R 4  are linear C8-C14 alkyl. 
     
     
         6 . The antimicrobial composition according to  claim 1 , wherein R 3  and R 4  are each independently selected from hydrogen and branched C16-C20 alkyl groups. 
     
     
         7 . The antimicrobial composition according to  claim 1 , wherein R 3  or R 4  is hydrogen. 
     
     
         8 . The antimicrobial composition according to  claim 1 , wherein R 3  and R 4  are the same. 
     
     
         9 . The antimicrobial composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the N-vinyl lactam copolymer is present in said composition at a concentration of about 0.5-10 weight percent. 
     
     
         10 . The antimicrobial composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of antimicrobial agent is between about 0.01 and 2 weight percent. 
     
     
         11 . The antimicrobial composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of quaternium salts, phenols, halogen-releasing compounds, aldehydes, biguanides and polymeric biguanides, amphoterics, iodine-based compounds, peroxygen-based compounds, and silver-containing compounds. 
     
     
         12 . The antimicrobial composition according to  claim 11 , wherein the antimicrobial agent is a quaternary ammonium compound selected from the group consisting of benzethonium chloride, benzalkonium or benzethonium bromide or fluoride, cetyl pyridinium chloride, dequalinium chloride, N-myristyl-N-methyl-morpholinium methyl sulfate, poly[N-[3-(dimethylammonio)propyl]-N′-[3-(ethyleneoxyethelene dimethylammonio)propyl]urea dichloride], alpha-4-[1-tris(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium chloride-2-butenyl]-omega-tris(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium chloride, and poly[oxyethylene (dimethyliminio)ethylene (dimethyliminio)-ethylene dichloride]. 
     
     
         13 . The antimicrobial composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier material is an alcohol, water, an ester, a skin care oil, an emulsifier, emollient, or any mixture thereof. 
     
     
         14 . A method for reducing or eliminating the number of micro-organisms on a surface, comprising applying an antimicrobial composition according to  claim 1  to said surface and allowing the formation of an antimicrobial film. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said surface is the surface of skin, hair and/or nails, or wherein the surface is the surface of a medical device or a personal care product. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said micro-organisms are bacteria, viruses, fungi, spores or yeast. 
     
     
         17 . A product comprising a composition according to  claim 1 , the product selected from a skin sanitizer, hand-rub, or (micro)glove. 
     
     
         18 . A slow-release carrier for an antimicrobial agent in an antimicrobial film or coating comprising N-vinyl lactam copolymer,
 wherein said copolymer is obtainable by solution polymerization of vinyl pyrrolidone monomer units (A) and hydrophobically derivatized maleate monomer units (B) wherein (B) is defined according to the following general formula:   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen or methyl,
 R3 and R4 are each independently selected from hydrogen, linear and branched C6-C20 alkyl groups, with the exception that both R3 and R4 are hydrogen, 
 
         wherein said polymerization comprises the continuously feeding of a monomer mixture comprising about 70-90 weight % of monomer (A) and about 10-30 weight % of monomer (B), over a predetermined period of time to the reaction mixture.