Antimicrobial composition having efficacy against endospores
A sporicidal composition has a moderately low pH and includes at least one oxidizing acid and the dissociation product of at least one inorganic oxidizing agent. Very high effective solute concentrations can enhance the efficacy of the composition. Embodiments of the composition can be applied to a surface and allowed to absorb into the endospore, ultimately killing at least some of those bacteria in mature endospore form. The surface being treated can be an inanimate surface, particularly a hard surface, or a medical device.
1. A sporicidal composition having a pH of from 1.5 to 4, inclusive, and an effective solute concentration of from 1.5 to 9 Osm/L, inclusive, said composition comprising, on a per liter basis:
a) a solvent component having a δ p value less than 15.6 MPa 1/2 that comprises
1) 50-500 mL water and
2) at least one organic liquid, and
b) a solute component that comprises
1) dissociation product of an oxidizing acid having a pK a value of greater than 3 and a standard potential of at least +0.5 V,
2) dissociation product of from 4 to 20 g of an electrolyte oxidizing agent having a standard potential of at least +1.5 V, and
3) dissociation product of at least one non-oxidizing electrolyte.
2. The sporicidal composition of claim 1 wherein said solute component further comprises wetting agent.
3. The sporicidal composition of claim 2 wherein said oxidizing acid is the reaction product of an organic acid and a peroxide.
4. The sporicidal composition of claim 2 having a pH of no more than 3 and an effective solute concentration of at least 2 Osm/L.
5. The sporicidal composition of claim 2 wherein said wetting agent comprises anionic surfactant.
6. The sporicidal composition of claim 5 wherein said wetting agent further comprises nonionic surfactant.
7. The sporicidal composition of claim 1 wherein said oxidizing acid is the reaction product of an organic acid and a peroxide.
8. The sporicidal composition of claim 1 having a pH of no more than 3 and an effective solute concentration of at least 2 Osm/L.
9. The sporicidal composition of claim 1 wherein said at least one organic liquid comprises a glycol ether.
10. The sporicidal composition of claim 1 wherein said at least one organic liquid is a glycol ether.
11. The sporicidal composition of claim 1 having an effective solute concentration of at least 3 Osm/L.
12. The sporicidal composition of claim 1 wherein said solvent component has a δ p value of from 13.5 to 15.5 MPa 1/2 .
13. A method for treating a surface susceptible to the presence of one or more types of endospores, said method comprising contacting said surface with a sporicidal composition having a pH of from 1.5 to 4, inclusive, and an effective solute concentration of from 1.5 to 9 Osm/L, inclusive, said composition comprising, on a per liter basis:
a) a solvent component having a δ p value less than 15.6 MPa 1/2 that comprises
1) 50-500 mL water and
2) at least one organic liquid, and
b) a solute component that comprises
1) dissociation product of an oxidizing acid having a pK a value of greater than 3 and a standard potential of at least +0.5 V,
2) dissociation product of from 4 to 20 g of an electrolyte oxidizing agent having a standard potential of at least +1.5 V, and
3) dissociation product of at least one non-oxidizing electrolyte.
14. A sporicidal composition having a pH of no more than 3 and an effective solute concentration of at least 2 Osm/L, said composition comprising, on a per liter basis:
a) a solvent component having a δ p value of from 13.5 to 15.5 MPa 1/2 , that consists of
1) 50-500 mL water and
2) at least one organic liquid that comprises glycol ether, and
b) a solute component that comprises
1) dissociation product of an oxidizing acid having a pK a value of greater than 3 and a standard potential of at least +0.5 V, said oxidizing acid being the reaction product of an organic acid and a peroxide,
2) dissociation product of from 4 to 20 g of an electrolyte oxidizing agent having a standard potential of at least +1.5 V,
3) dissociation product of at least one non-oxidizing electrolyte, and
4) a wetting agent that comprises anionic surfactant.
15. The sporicidal composition of claim 14 wherein said electrolyte oxidizing agent has a standard potential of at least +2.0 V.
16. The sporicidal composition of claim 15 wherein said wetting agent further comprises nonionic surfactant.
17. The sporicidal composition of claim 15 wherein said solute component comprises 12.5±6 g of said electrolyte oxidizing agent.
18. The sporicidal composition of claim 14 wherein said wetting agent further comprises nonionic surfactant.
19. The sporicidal composition of claim 18 wherein said solute component comprises 12.5±6 g of said electrolyte oxidizing agent.
20. The sporicidal composition of claim 14 wherein said solute component comprises 12.5±6 g of said electrolyte oxidizing agent.