CLEANING COMPOSITIONS EMPLOYING INFUSED GEL
A cleaning composition and uses thereof comprising an aqueous-based gel carrier with a pH range of 5.0-10.0 to remove organic matter from medical devices is described. The gel carrier is infused with viable Bacillus subtilis to enzymatically remove organic matter in a short period of time.
1 . A cleaning composition comprising:
(a) a surfactant;
(b) viable Bacillus subtilis in an amount effective to degrade and promote the degradation of organic materials; and
(c) an aqueous-based gel carrier;
wherein said cleaning composition maintains the viable Bacillus subtilis such that at least 90% of the organic material is removed from a surface; and the aqueous-based gel carrier has a pH range of 5.0-10.0.
2 . The composition of claim 1 wherein the Bacillus subtilis is present in a concentration selected from the group consisting of about 1×10 6 /mL to 1×10 7 /mL, 1×10 7 /mL to 1×10 8 /mL and 1×10 6 /mL to 1×10 9 /mL.
3 . The composition of claim 1 wherein the Bacillus subtilis produces proteolytic, amylolytic, lipolytic and/or cellulolytic enzymes as well as mixtures thereof.
4 . The composition of claim 1 wherein the organic materials can be any contaminant on a medical instrument.
5 . The composition of claim 1 wherein the surfactant is selected from the group of anionic, nonionic, cationic, ampholytic, amphoteric and plant based surfactants.
6 . The composition of claim 1 wherein the aqueous-based gel carrier has a pH range selected from the group consisting of 6-8, 7-8, 5-9 and 4-10.
7 . A cleaning composition comprising:
(a) 0.5-20% by weight viable Bacillus subtilis;
(b) 5-20% by weight Glycol;
(c) 5-20% by weight Decyl Glucoside;
(d) 5-20% by weight Lauryl Glucoside
(e) 5-20% by weight Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate; and
the balance by weight comprises water.
8 . The cleaning composition of claim 7 wherein the weight of viable Bacillus subtilis is selected from the group consisting of 0.5-5%, 5-10%, 10-15% and 15-20% of the composition.
9 . A method for cleaning surgical equipment comprising the steps of:
(a) treating said equipment with a cleaning composition;
(b) contacting said equipment with said composition for at least 10 minutes;
(c) rinsing said composition from said equipment with water; and
(d) optionally drying said equipment to completely remove said rinsing agent from said equipment.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the cleaning composition comprises the composition of claim 1 .
11 . The method of claim 9 wherein the rinsing of said composition results in the removal of at least 90%, 95% or 99% of all organic material.
12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein said cleaning composition comprises a surfactant selected from the group of anionic, nonionic, cationic, ampholytic, amphoteric and plant based surfactants.
13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the cleaning composition comprises the composition of claim 7 .
14 . The method of claim 13 wherein the rinsing of the composition results in the removal of at least 90%, 95% or 99% of all organic material.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the cleaning composition is comprised of a surfactant selected from the group of anionic, nonionic, cationic, ampholytic, amphoteric and plant based surfactants.
16 . The method of claim 9 wherein the surgical equipment comprises a composition of metal, plastic, electronic, or ceramic and combinations thereof.