Antimicrobial compositions and methods employing same
A composition that can be used to treat a wide spectrum of gram positive and gram negative bacteria, including but not limited to those in biofilm form, and other microbes can be used in cilia-containing areas such as the sinus cavities and middle/inner ear, while resulting in no, or very minimal amounts of, deciliation. Where such a targeted treatment area includes a biofilm, the composition often can detach and assist in removing the biofilm from affected tissue. Many embodiments of the composition are biocompatible.
1. An antimicrobial composition suitable for introduction into cilia-containing areas of an animal body, said composition consisting essentially of:
a) a solvent component that consists of water and at least 2% (w/v) of an organic solvent selected from ethanol and DMSO, and
b) a solute component that consists of an organic polyacid, a salt of an organic polyacid, no more than 1% (w/v) of one or more anionic surfactants and at least 0.005% (w/v) of lysozyme,
said composition having a pH of from 6 to 8 and an effective solute concentration of no more than 250 mOsm/L.
2. The composition of claim 1 wherein said composition has an effective solute concentration of no more than 200 mOsm/L.
3. The composition of claim 1 wherein said organic polyacid is citric acid.
4. The composition of claim 1 wherein said salt of an organic polyacid is a sodium salt of citric acid.
5. The composition of claim 1 wherein said solute component includes no more than 0.8% (w/v) of said one or more anionic surfactants.
6. The composition of claim 5 wherein said solute component includes no more than 0.7% (w/v) of said one or more anionic surfactants.
7. The composition of claim 6 wherein said solute component includes no more than 0.5% (w/v) of said one or more anionic surfactants.
8. The composition of claim 7 wherein said solute component is free of anionic surfactants.
9. The composition of claim 1 wherein said organic solvent is DMSO.
10. The composition of claim 1 wherein said organic solvent is ethanol.
11. An antimicrobial composition suitable for introduction into cilia-containing areas of an animal body, said composition consisting of:
a) a solvent component that consists of water and at least 2% (w/v) of an organic solvent selected from ethanol and DMSO, and
b) a solute component that consists of an organic polyacid, a salt of an organic polyacid, no more than 1% (w/v) of one or more anionic surfactants and at least 0.005% (w/v) of lysozyme,
said composition having a pH of from 6 to 8 and an effective solute concentration of no more than 250 mOsm/L.
12. The composition of claim 11 wherein said composition has an effective solute concentration of no more than 200 mOsm/L.
13. The composition of claim 11 wherein said organic polyacid is citric acid.
14. The composition of claim 11 wherein said salt of an organic polyacid is a sodium salt of citric acid.
15. The composition of claim 11 wherein said solute component includes no more than 0.8% (w/v) of said one or more anionic surfactants.
16. The composition of claim 15 wherein said solute component includes no more than 0.8% (w/v) of said one or more anionic surfactants.
17. The composition of claim 16 wherein said solute component includes no more than 0.8% (w/v) of said one or more anionic surfactants.
18. The composition of claim 17 wherein said solute component is free of anionic surfactants.
19. The composition of claim 11 wherein said organic solvent is DMSO.
20. The composition of claim 11 wherein said organic solvent is ethanol.