Methods of reducing microbial contamination

1. A method of delaying the onset of an infection caused by a microbial organism in an internal cavity of a subject, the method comprising: contacting at least a portion of the interior surface of an opening leading to the internal cavity with an antimicrobial composition; and subsequently at least partially inserting an instrument into the opening, wherein the antimicrobial composition comprises:

an effective amount of an antimicrobial component comprising an antiseptic present in an amount of at least 0.1 weight percent based on the total weight of the composition; and

a surfactant component distinct from the antimicrobial component, wherein the surfactant component is present in an amount of at least 0.1 wt-% based on the total weight of the composition, and the surfactant component comprises an anionic surfactant, zwitterionic surfactant, poloxamer surfactant, amine oxide surfactant, or combinations thereof;

wherein the opening is a urethra, and the cavity is a bladder;

wherein a surfactant incorporated into an iodophor is not considered the surfactant component, but is part of the antimicrobial component; and

wherein the antimicrobial composition is placed on at least 1 cm deep of the interior surface of the opening leading to the internal cavity.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the antimicrobial composition further comprises a vehicle comprising less than 1 wt-% water.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the antimicrobial composition further comprises a second active agent distinct from the antimicrobial component.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the antimicrobial composition further comprises:

at least 0.20 wt-% of an enhancer component comprising an alpha-hydroxy acid, a beta-hydroxy acid, a chelating agent, a (C1-C4)alkyl carboxylic acid, a (C6-C12)aryl carboxylic acid, a (C6-C12)aralkyl carboxylic acid, a (C6-C12)alkaryl carboxylic acid, a phenolic compound, a (C1-C10)alkyl alcohol, an ether glycol, or combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the antimicrobial composition further comprises:

a hydrophilic vehicle other than water.

6. A method of delaying the onset of an infection caused by a microbial organism in an internal cavity of a subject, the method comprising: contacting at least a portion of the interior surface of an opening leading to the internal cavity with an antimicrobial composition; and subsequently at least partially inserting an instrument into the opening, wherein the antimicrobial composition comprises:

an effective amount of an antimicrobial component comprising an antiseptic present in an amount of at least 0.1 weight percent based on the total weight of the composition;

a surfactant component distinct from the antimicrobial component and present in a total amount of at least 0.1 wt-% based on the total weight of the composition, and the surfactant component comprises an anionic surfactant, zwitterionic surfactant, poloxamer surfactant, amine oxide surfactant, or combinations thereof;

wherein the composition has a viscosity of at least 1,000 cps at 23° C.;

wherein the opening is a urethra, and the cavity is a bladder;

wherein a surfactant incorporated into an iodophor is not considered the surfactant component, but is part of the antimicrobial component; and

wherein the antimicrobial composition is placed on at least 1 cm deep of the interior surface of the opening leading to the internal cavity.

7. The method of claim 1 or claim 6 wherein the antiseptic comprises an antimicrobial lipid, a phenolic antiseptic, a cationic antiseptic, iodine and/or an iodophor, a peroxide antiseptic, an antimicrobial natural oil, or combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 1 or claim 6 wherein the instrument is selected from the group consisting of urinary catheters and surgical instruments.

9. The method of claim 1 or claim 6 wherein residual antimicrobial efficacy is provided to the surface to which the antimicrobial composition is applied.

10. The method of claim 1 or claim 6 wherein the instrument is treated with the same or different antimicrobial composition prior to the inserting step.

11. The method of claim 1 or claim 6 wherein the pH of the composition is less than 7.

12. The method of claim 1 or claim 6 wherein the external tissue surrounding the opening is treated with the same or different antimicrobial composition prior to the inserting step.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein the antiseptic comprises a cationic antiseptic.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant component comprises zwitterionic surfactant, amine oxide surfactant, or combinations thereof.

15. The method of claim 6 , wherein the surfactant component comprises zwitterionic surfactant, amine oxide surfactant, or combinations thereof.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial composition is a liquid.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein contacting at least a portion of the interior surface of an opening leading to the internal cavity comprises filling the urethral passage with the composition.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein contacting at least a portion of the interior surface of an opening leading to the internal cavity with the antimicrobial composition comprises placing the antimicrobial composition at least one centimeter deep into the urethra and in an amount that is at least 10 milligrams antimicrobial composition per square centimeter of urethral tissue.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein contacting at least a portion of the interior surface of an opening leading to the internal cavity with the antimicrobial composition comprises allowing the composition to reside on the internal surface for at least 10 seconds before at least partially inserting an instrument into the opening.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein contacting at least a portion of the interior surface of an opening leading to the internal cavity with the antimicrobial composition comprises allowing the composition to reside on the internal surface for at least 30 seconds before at least partially inserting an instrument into the opening.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the instrument is not coated with the antimicrobial composition.