METHOD FOR DISINFECTION OF ITEMS AND SPACES

Abstract

This disclosure provides a method of disinfecting a surface within an area, comprising the steps of: a) dispersing into the area a multiplicity of droplets of a first aqueous composition comprising a first iodine reactant compound that is either a peroxide compound or an iodine salt compound: b) allowing sufficient time for the first aqueous composition to distribute throughout the area, and to deposit and coalesce into a layer upon the surface: c) dispersing into the area a multiplicity of droplets of a second aqueous composition comprising a second iodine reactant compound that is the other of the first iodine reactant compound, and: d) again allowing sufficient time for the droplets of the second aqueous composition to deposit onto the coalesced layer of the first aqueous composition, thereby forming iodine and other iodine biocides in situ and disinfecting the surface.

Claims

1. A method of disinfecting a surface in need of disinfecting, within an area, said method comprising: dispersing into said area a multiplicity of droplets of a first aqueous composition comprising a first reactant compound that is either a peroxide compound or an iodine salt compound; allowing a time sufficient for said first aqueous composition to distribute throughout the area and to deposit and coalesce into a layer upon said surface; dispersing into said area a multiplicity of droplets of a second aqueous composition comprising a second reactant compound that is the other of the first reactant compound; and, allowing a second sufficient time for the droplets of the second aqueous composition to deposit onto the coalesced layer of the first aqueous composition to form a reaction layer thereby forming a biocide reactant compound of iodine in situ on the reaction layer and disinfecting said surface.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein an amount of the dispersed first aqueous composition is sufficient to provide the coalesced layer of the first aqueous composition with a substantially uniform thickness of at least about 1 micron and up to about 20 microns.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the amount of the dispersed second aqueous composition is sufficient to provide as coalesced layer of the second aqueous composition with a substantially uniform thickness of at least about 1 micron sand up to about 20 microns.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the amount of the dispersed first aqueous composition is sufficient to provide the coalesced layer of the first aqueous composition with a substantially uniform thickness of at least about 3 microns and up to about 20 microns.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the multiplicity of droplets of the first aqueous composition are electrostatically charged droplets.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the multiplicity of electrostatically charged droplets of the first aqueous composition are negatively charged.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the multiplicity of electrostatically charged droplets of the first aqueous composition are positively charged.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the multiplicity of droplets of the second aqueous composition are electrostatically charged droplets.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the multiplicity of electrostatically charged droplets of the second aqueous composition are negatively charged.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the multiplicity of electrostatically charged droplets of the second aqueous composition are positively charged.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the first aqueous composition comprises about 0.01% to about 1.0% by weight potassium iodide.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the second aqueous composition comprises about 3% to about 7% by weight hydrogen peroxide.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] The present disclosure relates to a method for sterilizing rooms, areas, and surfaces within those areas; particularly by generating iodine biocides on those targets in situ by applying iodine biocide reactant compounds in two or more separate applications. The method described herein is safer because the iodine biocides are formed directly on the target only after all reaction components have been applied.

[0032] The term, “health care surface” refers to a surface of a surface of an instrument, a device, a cart, a cage, furniture, a structure, a building, or the like that is employed as part of a health care activity.

[0033] As used herein, the term, “in situ,” refers to the production of an iodine biocide directly on the target surface, after application of two separate compositions containing iodine reactant compounds. This is distinct from other sterilization or disinfection methods that utilize the term in situ to describe the location at which two or more reaction mixtures are first mixed in a reaction vessel to form an iodine biocide, before subsequently applying the iodine biocide onto a surface or area.

[0034] As used herein, the term, “instrument,” refers to the various medical or dental instruments or devices that can benefit from cleaning with a composition according to the present disclosure.

[0035] As used herein, the term “microorganism” refers to any noncellular or unicellular (including colonial) organism. Microorganisms include all prokaryotes. Microorganisms include bacteria (including cyanobacteria), spores, lichens, fungi, protozoa, virinos, viroids, viruses, phages, and some algae. As used herein, the term “microbe” is synonymous with microorganism.

[0036] As used herein, the phrase, “iodine salt”, refers to any salt of iodine that is capable of forming an iodine biocide that is effective as a disinfecting agent.

[0037] As used herein, the term, “iodine biocide compound” refers to any compound that can react with an iodine salt to form an iodine biocide, including but not limited to hydrogen peroxide, metal peroxides, and ozone.

[0038] As used herein, the term “polyhydric alcohol” refers to an alcohol that has two or more hydroxyl groups. Polyhydric alcohols suitable for use in the aqueous compositions include but are not limited to sugars, sugar alcohols, and non-aliphatic polyhydric alcohols such as phenols.

[0039] Concentrations, dimensions, amounts, and other numerical data may be presented herein in a range format. It is to be understood that such range format is used merely for convenience and brevity.

[0040] In accordance with these definitions, several methods for disinfecting target surfaces within an area by forming iodine biocides on those surfaces in situ are provided. The potential applications for these methods are extraordinarily diverse, including but not limited to disinfecting animal living spaces, food products and processing surfaces, health care surfaces and instruments, laboratories, restrooms, vehicles, schools, offices, public transportation, industrial facilities, and countless other areas and surfaces. This disclosure overcomes the deficiencies associated with direct delivery of iodine for sterilization, particularly with regard to the instability, insolubility and safety of iodine biocides.

[0041] This disclosure harnesses the power of iodine chemistry to disinfect target surfaces while utilizing ingredients that are safe and have a very long shelf life and that anyone can obtain at their local grocery store or pharmacy.

[0042] Without berg limited by theory, the antimicrobial action of iodine is quick and effective at low concentrations, and thus it is used in operating theatres. It is believed to penetrate into microorganisms and attack particular amino acids (such as cysteine and methionine), nucleotides, and fatty acids, ultimately resulting in cell death. It also has an antiviral action. It may also destabilize membrane fatty acids by reacting with unsaturated carbon bonds.

[0043] It is believed that peroxides are effective as disinfectants because they are powerful oxidizing agents that can irreversibly damage proteins and DNA within microorganisms. Additionally, peroxides can reactivate iodine if it is reduced to iodide by oxidizing it. Thus, lower levels of iodine are required because peroxides can recycle iodide back to the iodine active state.

[0044] Alcohols are also believed to be effective biocides denaturing cell walls of microbes making it harder for them to control their cell contents. This mechanism would also reduce a microbe's ability to resist the penetration of iodine and peroxides. It also helps other biocides work by lowering the surface tension of water.

[0045] Used together, the various components of this disclosure work together to produce an exceptional microbe kill by a large number of differing mechanisms. This makes it virtually impossible for a microbe to acquire immunity.

[0046] Essentially, this disclosure provides a method for disinfecting surfaces within an area that needs disinfecting, the method comprising the steps of: dispersing into the area a multiplicity of droplets of a first aqueous composition comprising a first iodine biocide reactant compound; allowing a time sufficient for the first aqueous composition to distribute throughout the area, and to deposit and coalesce into a layer about the surfaces; dispersing a multiplicity of droplets of a second aqueous composition comprising a second iodine biocide reactant compound; and allowing a second time sufficient for the second aqueous composition to deposit onto the coalesced layer of the first aqueous composition, thereby forming an iodine biocide in situ and disinfecting the surfaces.

[0047] So long as an iodine biocide is formed only on the surface to be disinfected, the effectiveness of the method is independent of the order in which the iodine biocide reactant compounds are dispersed. Thus, the first iodine biocide reactant compound can either be an iodine salt compound or a peroxide compound, so long as the second iodine biocide reactant compound is the opposite compound of that chosen to be the first iodine biocide reactant compound.

[0048] The peroxide compound present in either aqueous composition is any compound that can react with an iodine salt to form an iodine biocide. Generally, these will include but not be limited to hydrogen peroxide, metal peroxides, or ozone. In some embodiments, the peroxide compound is hydrogen peroxide. The peroxide compound may be present in an aqueous composition at concentrations ranging from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight.

[0049] The iodine salt compound present in either aqueous composition is any iodine salt that can effectively form an iodine biocide by reacting with a peroxide compound. Non-limiting examples of compounds which can be used include hydrogen iodide, sodium iodide, and potassium iodide. The iodine salt may be present in an aqueous composition at concentrations ranging from about 0.01% to about 10% by weight.

[0050] In some embodiments of the disclosure, the disinfectant methods described above for generating iodine biocides on surfaces to be disinfected can be used for a variety of user-identified biocidal and/or anti-microbial purposes, including antimicrobial, bleaching, or sanitizing applications.

[0051] In some embodiments, the iodine biocides generated according to the method of the present disclosure are effective for killing one or more of the pathogenic bacteria associated with a health care surfaces and instruments including but not limited to, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella choleraesurus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Mycobacteria, yeast, and mold. In other embodiments, the generated iodine biocides are also effective in domestic or industrial applications and can be applied in a variety of areas including but not limited to kitchens, bathrooms, factories, hospitals, dental offices, restaurants, laundry or textile services, animal stalls and food processing plants.

[0052] Furthermore, the iodine biocides generated according to the method of the present disclosure are effective against a wide variety of microorganisms, such as Gram-positive organisms (Listeria monocytogenes or Staphylococcus aureus). Gram-negative organisms (Escherichia coli or Pseudomonas aeruginosa), catalase-positive organisms (Micrococcus luteus or Staphylococcus epidermidis), or sporulent organisms (Bacillus subtilis).

[0053] The disclosureis illustrated by the following examples.

EXAMPLES

[0054] The following example illustrates the embodiments of the disclosure that are presently best known. However, it is to be understood that the following is only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present disclosure. Numerous modifications and alternative compositions, methods, and systems may be devised by those skilled in the art hout departing from he spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Example 1: Closed-System Electrospray Distribution and Log-Kill Studies

[0055] A study was conducted in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure to determine the antimicrobial effect of a method where an iodine biocide is formed on target surfaces within a 1 cubic meter translucent plastic cube in situ by applying two separate aqueous compositions, one containing potassium iodide and one containing hydrogen peroxide. The following ingredients are included in approximate amounts:

[0056] First Aqueous Composition:

[0057] 0.64% (wiw) potassium iodide

[0058] 15% (w!w) Ethanol

[0059] 0.003% (wiw) Cinnamon Oil

[0060] 84.357% (w/w) Distilled Water

[0061] Second Aqueous Composition:

[0062] 5,25% (wiw) Hydrogen Peroxide

[0063] 15% (wfw) Ethanol

[0064] 79.75% (wiw) Distilled Water

[0065] To simultaneously evaluate whether an electrospray device would evenly distribute an aqueous composition including an iodine biocide reactant compound, the first aqueous composition is applied using a Hurricane ES™ Portable Electrostatic Aerosol Applicator. Two analytical balances are placed inside the cube and connected to a computer station configured to collect and record mass measurements as a function of time. On each balance, a 1000 square centimeter plastic sheet is placed on the balance weighing pan. The position of each balance is staggered to be in different positions along the x, y, and z axes in relation to the position of the electrostatic sprayer. The second aqueous composition is applied using a hand sprayer.

[0066] Cultures from commercially-available strains of three species of bacteria—Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus, and Staphylococcus epidermis—are selected for the log-kill studies because they possess several known defense mechanisms to common biocides while at the same time having different physical properties from each other. Sterilized, pre-poured agar plates are used as growth media to produce colonies of each bacteria. Eight plates are inoculated for each species. Of those 8 plates, 4 plates are exposed to the aqueous compositions that contain the iodine biocide reactant compounds, and 4 are held out as controls. Plates are inoculated using the standard T-method of streaking for log-kill studies, where the concentration of bacteria in the fourth quadrant of the plate is approximately 1,000,000× diluted with respect to the first quadrant. The test plates for each species are then placed inside the cube. After the cube is closed, the lids are opened. Control plates are sealed with tape.

[0067] The first aqueous composition is then applied to the entire cube by electrospray for 30 seconds with a set particle size of about 15 to 60 microns. During the application, mass measurements from the two balances are collected and recorded by the computer. The time of application is selected to provide a 3 microns thick coating within the treatment space as measured by the balances. After about 1 minutes, the second aqueous composition is applied using a hand sprayer, and the entire system is untouched for another 5 minutes. Lids are replaced on each of the test plates inside the cube before being brought out into the ambient environment, where they are sealed with tape. The sealed test plates and the control plates are then incubated at about 28° C. and inspected after 1, 2, and 4 days.

[0068] The results of the tests are provided as follows:

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Electrospray Distribution  Mass-First Aqueous Composition (g) Balance A (with 1000 cm{circumflex over ( )}2 plate) 0.201 Balance B (with 1000 cm{circumflex over ( )}2 plate) 0.195

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Presence of colonies after 1 day (+ or −) Plate Number B. subtilis M. luteus S. epidermis 1 − − − 2 − − − 3 − − − 4 − − −

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Presence of colonies after 2 days (+ or −) Plate Number B. subtilis M. luteus S. epidermis 1 − − − 2 − − − 3 − − − 4 − − −

TABLE-US-00004 Presence of colonies after 4 days (+ or −) Plate Number B. subtilis M. luteus S. epidermis 1 − − − 2 − − − 3 − − − 4 − − −

[0069] The mass of the first aqueous composition deposited on balance A and balance B indicates a difference of 0.006 grams which is only a 3% difference. In combination with a qualitative observation that the inside surfaces of the cube appear to be equally coated with liquid, it is believed that the electrospray evenly distributes the first aqueous composition within the cube.

[0070] All controls produce the expected results, with positive control plates not treated with aqueous compositions containing iodine biocide reactant compounds showing characteristic growth for each organism. Over the 16 control plates, there is an average of 4 or 5 colonies in the fourth quadrant of the plate, indicating that there are 45,000,000 colonies in the initial inoculation.

[0071] Therefore, the lack of colonies on the test plates, coupled with the approximately 45,000,000 colonies observed on the control plates, indicates that the method is effective to at least a log-6 kill rate, representing a kill of 99.9999% of the bacteria originally present on the plate.

[0072] Example II: Fifteen Petri dishes containing nutrient agar were streaked with Bacillus subtilus in three zones in the traditional manner. Five of the Petris were sealed after streaking (control). Five Petris were sprayed with a solution containing 2 ppm Kl and 10% ethanol, sufficiently to wet the surface, and then sealed. And, five Petris were initially sprayed as before, and then subsequently sprayed with a solution containing 5% hydrogen peroxide and 2.5% isopropanol, and then sealed.

[0073] After incubating all 15 Petri dishes at 40° C. for three days, the number of colony forming units was estimated as follows: about 10k for the control; about 6k for the Kl control and “0” for the double spray test.

[0074] While particular embodiments of the disclosure have been described, the disclosure can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, numerous equivalents to the specific procedures, embodiments, claims, and examples described herein.

[0075] It is also understood by those familiar with the art that from the Summary of the Disclosure to the Example, the word “bromine” can be substituted for the word “iodine” and the word “bromide” can be substituted for the word “iodide” because as a neighboring halide, its reactions with peroxide are similar to iodine and its ability to kill microbes is also similar to iodine. Furthermore, it will also be apparent and understood by the practitioners of the art that the salts of bromine and iodine are compatible and can be used together and concurrently in biocidal formulations.

[0076] Because the instant application is a continuation application, to the extent any amendments, characterizations, or other assertions previously made (in any related patent applications or patents, including any parent, sibling, or child) with respect to any art, prior or otherwise, could be construed as a disclaimer of any subject matter supported by the present disclosure of this application, Applicant hereby rescinds and retracts such disclaimer. Applicant also respectfully submits that any prior art previously considered in any related patent applications or patents, including any parent, sibling, or child, may need to be re-visited.