Nonwoven materials coated with fluoropolymer and antimicrobial agent

Abstract

An article having a nonwoven material and a coating contacting the nonwoven material, the coating comprising at least one fluorochemical and at least one antimicrobial agent. The fluorochemical comprises at least one fluoropolymer. The add-on value of the at least one antimicrobial agent on the nonwoven material is less than 0.75% and the coating provides at least a 4-log reduction within 5 minutes when measured using AATCC Method 100. The at least one antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of a benzalkonium salt, a benzethonium salt, a octenidine salt, a chlorhexidine salt, free base chlorhexidine, triclosan and combinations thereof. The coating provides at least a 2-log reduction within 5 minutes when measured using AATCC Method 100.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 799,443, filed on Mar. 15, 2013, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention is directed to medical articles having improved antimicrobial efficacy.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]In the United States, hospital-acquired infections, also known as nosocomial infections, cause or contribute to almost 100,000 deaths each year. Disposable medical articles, such as gowns, drapes, shoe covers, wraps, and caps are regularly used to minimize the transmission of such infections. These articles are often worn or used for a short period of time, for example less than ten minutes. This is especially true with isolation gowns, which are typically worn in intensive care units, or worn by clinicians caring for patients with compromised immune systems. Isolation gowns worn by clinicians are typically cha...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is about a coated nonwoven material that includes a fluorochemical, such as a fluoropolymer, and an antimicrobial agent, such as a benzalkonium salt or chlorhexidine salt. The coating provides a 2-log reduction in microbial growth in less than 5 minutes, measured using a specific method. The technical effect of this invention is that it provides a coated nonwoven material that has effective antimicrobial properties and can be used in various applications where reducing microbial growth is important.

Problems solved by technology

First, the gowns protect the clinician from the transfer of infectious organisms from the patient to the clinician by forming a physical barrier between the patient and the clinician.

Second, the gowns prevent the transfer of infectious microorganisms from the clinician to the patient.

Third, the gowns prevent the transfer of organisms from the hospital environment and / or from other patients to the clinician then from the clinician to another patient.

However, antimicrobial coatings known in the art are not as fast acting as desired.

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