Antimicrobial compositions and methods for locking catheters

1. A catheter containing a locking solution comprising an antimicrobial composition, the antimicrobial composition comprising:

a poloxamer; and

at least 10 weight percent of an alcohol on a basis of total weight of the antimicrobial composition.

2. The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the poloxamer is represented by the formula

HO(C 2 H 4 O) a (C 3 H 6 O) b (C 2 H 4 O) a OH

where a is at least 12 and b is an integer such that the hydrophilic portion represented by (C 2 H 4 O) constitutes about 50 to about 90% by weight of the entire polymer.

3. The catheter of claim 2 , wherein the average molecular weight of the poloxamer is between about 2,000 to about 18,000 daltons.

4. The catheter of claim 3 , wherein the poloxamer is selected from the group consisting of poloxamer 188, poloxamer 237, and poloxamer 407.

5. The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the poloxamer is present in an amount of about 0.01 wt. % to about 5 wt. %, based on the weight of the antimicrobial composition.

6. The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the alcohol is a C 1 -C 6 lower alcohol.

7. The catheter of claim 6 , wherein the C 1 -C 6 lower alcohol is a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and ethanol.

8. The catheter of claim 7 , wherein the C 1 -C 6 lower alcohol is a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and ethanol and is present in an amount of about 50 to about 95% by weight of the antimicrobial composition.

9. The catheter of claim 1 , further comprising an additive selected from the group consisting of an anticoagulant, saline, water, and combinations thereof.

10. The catheter of claim 9 , wherein the anticoagulant is selected from the group consisting of acetylsalicylic acid, anti-thrombin III, citric acid disodium salt, citric acid monopotassium salt, citric acid monosodium salt, citric acid tripotassium salt, citric acid trisodium salt, citric acid, coumadin, coumarin, di-ammonium hydrogen citrate, di-ammonium tartrate, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) diammonium salt, EDTA dipotassium salt, EDTA disodium salt, EDTA tetrasodium salt, EDTA tripotassium salt, EDTA trisodium salt, ethylene glycol-O,O′-bis(2-aminoethyl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid, ethylenebis(oxyethylenenitrilo)tetraacetic acid, EDTA, heparin, hirudin, hirulog, ibuprofen, indomethacin, L-tartaric acid dipotassium salt, L-tartaric acid disodium salt, L-tartaric acid monosodium salt, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine-N,N′,N′-triacetic acid trisodium salt, nicoumalone, nitrilotriacetic acid, phenprocoumon, potassium hydrogen D-tartrate, potassium sodium tartrate, prostaglandins, protamine sulfate, protein C/protein S, streptokinase, sulfinpyrazone, tissue plasminogen activator (TPA), urokinase, and warfarin.

11. The catheter of claim 10 , wherein the anticoagulant is ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid.

12. A catheter comprising a coating comprising an antimicrobial composition, the antimicrobial composition comprising:

0.1 weight percent on a basis of total weight of the antimicrobial composition to 2 weight percent of a poloxamer;

at least 10 weight percent of a C 1 -C 6 lower alcohol on a basis of total weight of the antimicrobial composition; and

an anticoagulant.

13. The catheter of claim 12 , wherein the anticoagulant is selected from the group consisting of acetylsalicylic acid, anti-thrombin III, citric acid disodium salt, citric acid monopotassium salt, citric acid monosodium salt, citric acid tripotassium salt, citric acid trisodium salt, citric acid, coumadin, coumarin, di-ammonium hydrogen citrate, di-ammonium tartrate, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) diammonium salt, EDTA dipotassium salt, EDTA disodium salt, EDTA tetrasodium salt, EDTA tripotassium salt, EDTA trisodium salt, ethylene glycol-O,O′-bis(2-aminoethyl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid, ethylenebis(oxyethylenenitrilo)tetraacetic acid, EDTA, heparin, hirudin, hirulog, ibuprofen, indomethacin, L-tartaric acid dipotassium salt, L-tartaric acid disodium salt, L-tartaric acid monosodium salt, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine-N,N′,N′-triacetic acid trisodium salt, nicoumalone, nitrilotriacetic acid, phenprocoumon, potassium hydrogen D-tartrate, potassium sodium tartrate, prostaglandins, protamine sulfate, protein C/protein S, streptokinase, sulfinpyrazone, tissue plasminogen activator (TPA), urokinase, and warfarin.

14. A method for providing disinfection of an implanted catheter comprising a lumen and a wall, the method comprising:

introducing a locking solution comprising an antimicrobial composition into the lumen of the catheter, the antimicrobial composition comprising:

a poloxamer; and

at least 10 weight percent of an alcohol on a basis of total weight of the antimicrobial composition.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the alcohol is a C 1 -C 6 lower alcohol.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the C 1 -C 6 lower alcohol is a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and ethanol.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the C 1 -C 6 lower alcohol is a combination of isopropyl alcohol and ethanol to a total in the range of 50 to 95 wt %, based on the weight of the antimicrobial composition.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the antimicrobial composition is maintained in the lumen of the catheter for a period of time ranging from about 48 hours to about one week.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the antimicrobial composition penetrates the wall of the catheter.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the antimicrobial composition further comprises an anticoagulant selected from the group consisting of acetylsalicylic acid, anti-thrombin III, citric acid disodium salt, citric acid monopotassium salt, citric acid monosodium salt, citric acid tripotassium salt, citric acid trisodium salt, citric acid, coumadin, coumarin, di-ammonium hydrogen citrate, di-ammonium tartrate, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) diammonium salt, EDTA dipotassium salt, EDTA disodium salt, EDTA tetrasodium salt, EDTA tripotassium salt, EDTA trisodium salt, ethylene glycol-O,O′-bis(2-aminoethyl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid, ethylenebis(oxyethylenenitrilo)tetraacetic acid, EDTA, heparin, hirudin, hirulog, ibuprofen, indomethacin, L-tartaric acid dipotassium salt, L-tartaric acid disodium salt, L-tartaric acid monosodium salt, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine-N,N′,N′-triacetic acid trisodium salt, nicoumalone, nitrilotriacetic acid, phenprocoumon, potassium hydrogen D-tartrate, potassium sodium tartrate, prostaglandins, protamine sulfate, protein C/protein S, streptokinase, sulfinpyrazone, tissue plasminogen activator (TPA), urokinase, and warfarin.