Disinfecting Solutions Effective Against Bacterial Endospores
The present invention is directed to a biguanide-containing disinfecting solutions effective in inactivating bacteria endospores on surfaces, air-borne or in water. The methods of using the present invention are directed to disinfecting endospore laden surfaces, air and water with the subject biguanide-containing solutions.
1 . A method of killing bacterial endospores comprising contacting a surface contaminated with said endospores with a composition comprising 0.01 wt. % to 15 wt. % of one or more biguanides.
2 . The method of claim 2 wherein the bacterial endospores are selected from the group consisting of Bacillus and Clostridium.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more biguanides are selected from the group consisting of alexidine, chlorhexidine, poly(hexamethylene biguanide) and the corresponding salts thereof.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the composition further comprises one or more surfactants.
5 . The method of claim 4 wherein the one or more surfactants are selected from the group consisting of cationic and nonionic surfactants.
6 . The method of claim 4 wherein the one or more surfactants are selected from the group consisting of poloxomers, reverse poloxomers, poloxamines, reverse poloxamines and alkylethylene oxide-containing surfactants.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the composition further comprises one or more buffers to maintain the pH of the composition from 4.0 to 9.0.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more biguanides is present from 0.1 wt. % to 15 wt. %.
9 . The method of claim 3 wherein the one or more biguanides is present from 0.1 wt. % to 15 wt. %.
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein the composition further comprises one or more buffers.
11 . The method of claim 1 wherein the composition in contact with the surface contaminated with bacterial endospores exhibits at least a one log reduction after one minute exposure against a dried film containing the endospores.
12 . A method of disinfecting hands against bacterial endospores comprising contacting the hands with a composition comprising 0.01 wt. % to 15 wt. % of one or more biguanides.
13 . The method of claim 12 wherein the bacterial endospores are selected from the group consisting of Bacillus and Clostridium.
14 . The method of claim 12 wherein the one or more biguanides are selected from the group consisting of alexidine, chlorhexidine, poly(hexamethylene biguanide) and the corresponding salts thereof.
15 . The method of claim 12 wherein the composition further comprises one or more buffers.
16 . A kit for killing bacterial endospores comprising:
a container for holding a composition comprising 0.01 wt. % to 15 wt. % of one or more biguanides, and
an instrument for applying the composition to an infected environment.
17 . The kit of claim 16 wherein the instrument is used to release an aerosol to the infected environment.