Methods of treating ear infections

1. A method of treating otitis media in a subject, the method comprising delivering an antimicrobial composition across the tympanic membrane and/or tympanic membrane surrounding tissue to the middle ear by contacting the tympanic membrane, and/or tympanic membrane surrounding tissue with the antimicrobial composition comprising:

an effective amount of an antimicrobial lipid component having a solubility in water of no greater than 1.0 gram per 100 grams deionized water and comprising an antiseptic selected from the group of a (C7-C14)saturated fatty acid monoester of glycerol, a (C7-C14)saturated fatty acid monoester of propylene glycol, a (C8-C22)unsaturated fatty acid monoester of glycerol, a (C8-C22)unsaturated fatty acid monoester of propylene glycol, an alkoxylated derivative of any of the foregoing having a free hydroxyl group, and combinations thereof; wherein the alkoxylated derivative has less than 5 moles of alkoxide per mole of glycerol or propylene glycol; and

an effective amount of a penetration agent, wherein the penetration agent promotes the diffusion of the antimicrobial component into the middle ear;

wherein the fatty acid esters or alkoxylate derivatives thereof comprise less than 15 wt-% di- or tri-esters based on the total weight of the antimicrobial lipid component; and

wherein the viscosity of the composition is less than 20 cps at 23° C.

2. A method of treating otitis media and/or otitis externa in a subject, the method comprising delivering an antimicrobial composition across the tympanic membrane and/or tympanic membrane surrounding tissue to the middle ear by contacting the tympanic membrane, and/or tympanic membrane surrounding tissue with the antimicrobial composition, the composition comprising:

greater than 2 wt-% and less than 6 wt-% of an antimicrobial lipid component having a solubility in water of no greater than 1.0 gram per 100 grams deionized water and comprising an antiseptic selected from the group of a (C7-C14)saturated fatty acid monoester of gylcerol, a (C7-C14)saturated fatty acid monoester of propylene glycol, a (C8-C22)unsaturated fatty acid monoester of glycerol, a (C8-C22)unsaturated fatty acid monoester of propylene glycol, an alkoxylated derivative of any of the foregoing having a free hydroxyl group, and combinations thereof; wherein the alkoxylated derivative has less than 5 moles of alkoxide per mole of glycerol or propylene glycol;

wherein the viscosity of the composition is less than 20 cps at 23° C.

3. A method of treating otitis media in a subject, the method comprising delivering an antimicrobial composition across the tympanic membrane and/or tympanic membrane surrounding tissue to the middle ear by contacting the tympanic membrane, and/or tympanic membrane surrounding tissue with the antimicrobial composition comprising:

an effective amount of an antimicrobial lipid component having a solubility in water of no greater than 1.0 gram per 100 grams deionized water and comprising an antiseptic selected from the group of a (C7-C14)saturated fatty acid monoester of glycerol, a (C7-C14)saturated fatty acid monoester of a propylene glycol, a (C8-C22)unsaturated fatty acid monoester of glycerol, a (C8-C22)unsaturated fatty acid monoester of propylene glycol, an alkoxylated derivative of any of the foregoing having a free hydroxyl group, and combinations thereof; wherein the alkoxylated derivative has less than 5 moles of alkoxide per mole of glycerol or propylene glycol; and

an effective amount of a penetration agent, wherein the penetration agent promotes the diffusion of the antimicrobial component into the middle ear;

wherein the antimicrobial composition is free of antibiotics.

4. A method of treating otitis media in a subject, the method comprising delivering an antimicrobial composition across the tympanic membrane and/or tympanic membrane surrounding tissue to the middle ear by contacting the tympanic membrane, and/or tympanic membrane surrounding tissue with the antimicrobial composition, the composition comprising

an effective amount of an antimicrobial lipid component having a solubility in water of no greater than 1.0 gram per 100 grams deionized water and comprising an antiseptic selected from the group of a (C7-C14)saturated fatty monoether of glycerol, a (C7-C14)saturated fatty monoether of propylene glyol, a (C8-C22)unsaturated fatty monoether of glycerol, a (C8-C22)unsaturated fatty monoether of propylene glycol, an alkoxylated derivative of any of the foregoing having a free hydroxyl group, and combinations thereof; wherein the alkoxylated derivative has less than 5 moles of alkoxide per mole of l glycerol or propylene glycol.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the antimicrobial composition further comprises an effective amount of a penetration agent, wherein the penetration agent promotes the diffusion of the antimicrobial component into the middle ear.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the viscosity of the composition is less than 20 cps at 23° C.

7. The method of any of claims 1 - 3 , and 4 , wherein the antimicrobial composition further comprises a surfactant.

8. The method of any of claims 1 and 3 , wherein the penetration agent is present in an amount of at least 2% by weight.

9. The method of any of claims 1 - 3 , and 4 , wherein the antimicrobial composition achieves at least 4 log reduction in test bacteria in 10 minutes.

10. The method of any of claims 1 - 3 , and 4 , wherein the antimicrobial composition further comprises an enhancer component.

11. The method of any of claims 1 and 3 , wherein the penetration agent is selected from the group consisting of lower alcohols, polyols, glycols, sulfoxides, amides, ketones, oleates, lactam compounds, long chain branched or straight chain saturated or unsaturated alcohols having 8-22 carbon atoms, dialkylamino acetates, and admixtures thereof.

12. The method of any of claims 1 - 3 , and 4 , wherein the antimicrobial composition is free of antigen.

13. The method of any of claims 1 - 3 and 4 , wherein the antimicrobial composition is buffered to a pH which is less than 7.