Liquid antimicrobial composition

Abstract

A liquid antimicrobial composition is provided for use in the disinfection of the skin of a human or an animal, in particular where disinfection of a drug resistant organism is required. The composition comprises a cationic, cell membrane-disrupting biocide and a cationic dendrimer capable of inhibiting an efflux pump mechanism of said cell membrane. The cationic, cell membrane-disrupting biocide is preferably any or a combination of chlorhexidine, a polymeric biguanide, octenidine dihydrochloride and a quaternary ammonium compound. The dendrimer is provided to bind and disrupt the cell membranes of microorganisms in order to inhibit or destroy the cell's efflux pump mechanism thereby preventing microorganism strains resistant to the cationic membrane-disrupting biocide from becoming prevalent, particularly if the biocide comprises chlorhexidine. The dendrimer is preferably a G-0 to G-3 dendrimer comprising any or a combination of quaternary ammonium functionalised poly(propylene imine), polylysine, dendrimers with surface groups based on a sugar and polyamide amine (PAMAM) dendrimers. The composition is preferably in the form of an aqueous or aqueous alcohol solution, dispersion or emulsion that may have been adsorbed by a wipe.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15 / 125,264, presently pending. U.S. application Ser. No. 15 / 125,264 is the U.S. National Stage of PCT / GB2015 / 000099, filed on Mar. 24, 2015.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to a liquid antimicrobial composition and in particular to such a composition for use in the disinfection of the skin of a human or animal where disinfection of a drug resistant organism may be required.DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART[0003]There is a need to disinfect skin prior to operations that may breach the skin barrier and permit ingress of micro-organisms that may cause infection. These micro-organisms may be external contaminants from the environment or equipment or may be the normal commensal skin flora, which though harmless in their normal external sites, may cause serious infection inside the body. It is also beneficial to have a means of cl...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text explains that cationic dendrimers can bind and damage the membrane of bacteria, which stops them from pumping out toxins. This also makes the dendrimers effective against viruses. The dendrimers don't need to be strong biocides, but they do make it harder for the bacteria to develop resistance to the treatment.

Problems solved by technology

Such dendrimers need not be biocides sufficient to meet regulatory requirements in their own right but owing to their capability to inhibit the efflux pump mechanisms of microbial cell membranes they significantly reduce the ability of the microorganism to develop an enhanced resistance to the cationic, cell membrane-disrupting biocide used in the composition along with it.

Images