Antimicrobial quaternary ammonium compositions with reduced ocular irritation

Abstract

The present inventors have discovered that electrolytes, such as the tetrasodium salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), reduce the ocular irritation and increase the disinfecting and sanitizing efficacy of compositions containing quaternary ammonium compounds and/or amines. As a result, concentrated solutions containing quaternary ammonium compounds and/or amines of the present invention have low, if any, ocular irritation. Furthermore, use dilutions of the concentrated solutions of the present invention include ingredients which are approved by the U.S. EPA for use on indirect food contact surfaces, unlike disinfecting and sanitizing compositions containing imidazoline compounds. Additionally, the use dilutions exhibit superior efficacy against gram negative and positive bacteria compared to similar compositions which do not contain the electrolyte and remain effective in hard water. The present invention is a concentrate, such as a sanitizing and disinfecting concentrate, comprising from about 0.5 to about 4.0% by weight of a quaternary ammonium compound, an amine, or a combination thereof and from about 2.0 to about 15.0% by weight of electrolyte, based upon 100% total weight of concentrate. The concentrate is generally substantially free of imidazoline compounds. Another embodiment is an ophthalmic solution comprising a quaternary ammonium compound, an amine, or a combination thereof, at least one electrolyte, and, optionally, a biologically active agent.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.