ANTIMICROBIAL DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF INFECTIONS IN THE COLON
This invention relates to the prophylactic and/or therapeutic application of antimicrobials that are, for example, administered orally as a delayed release formulation designed to release the drug to the distal small intestine and/or colon in high quantities and density, as a method for the prevention and/or treatment of infections in the colon.
1 . A method for treating a condition in the gastrointestinal tract of a patient, the method comprising:
administering a therapeutically-effective amount of a composition comprising taurolidine to the distal small intestine or the colon of the patient.
2 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the composition is administered to the patient orally.
3 . A method according to claim 2 wherein the composition comprises a taurolidine core contained within a decayable delivery vehicle.
4 . A method according to claim 3 wherein the decayable delivery vehicle shields the taurolidine core from premature hydrolyzation of the taurolidine as the composition moves from the mouth of the patient to the distal small intestine or the colon of the patient and releases the taurolidine for hydrolyzation in the distal small intestine or the colon of the patient.
5 . A method according to claim 4 wherein the decay of the delivery vehicle occurs during transit from the mouth of the patient to the distal small intestine or the colon of the patient.
6 . A method according to claim 4 wherein the decay of the delivery vehicle occurs in the distal small intestine or the colon of the patient.
7 . A method according to claim 4 wherein the composition is in capsule form.
8 . A method according to claim 4 wherein the composition is in tablet form.
9 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the composition is administered to the patient rectally.
10 . A method according to claim 9 wherein the composition is in suspension form.
11 . A method according to claim 9 wherein the composition comprises taurolidine suspended in a gel.
13 . A method according to claim 11 wherein the gel comprises a hydrogel.
14 . A method according to claim 9 wherein the composition is in solution form.
15 . A method according to claim 14 wherein the composition comprises 0.5%-4% taurolidine by weight in water.
16 . A method according to claim 9 wherein the composition is in suppository form.
17 . A method according to claim 16 wherein the composition comprises at least one from the group consisting of a capsule containing taurolidine and a gel containing taurolidine.
18 . A composition for oral administration to a patient for treating a condition in the gastrointestinal tract of the patient, the composition comprising a taurolidine core contained within a decayable delivery vehicle, wherein the decayable delivery vehicle shields the taurolidine core from premature hydrolyzation of the taurolidine as the composition moves from the mouth of the patient to the distal small intestine or the colon of the patient and releases the taurolidine for hydrolyzation in the distal small intestine or the colon of the patient.
19 . A composition according to claim 18 wherein the decay of the delivery vehicle occurs during transit from the mouth of the patient to the distal small intestine or the colon of the patient.
20 . A composition according to claim 18 wherein the decay of the delivery vehicle occurs in the distal small intestine or the colon of the patient.
21 . A composition according to claim 18 wherein the composition is in capsule form.
22 . A composition according to claim 18 wherein the composition is in tablet form.