This technology is a topical agent with a low concentration of soluble zinc salts that prevents dermal and mucosal irritations to reduce the transmission of infectious disease in the hospital setting.
Antimicrobial products are essential for the prevention of the transmission of infectious diseases, especially in facilities such as hospitals where health care workers can potentially carry pathogens from one patient to another. Unfortunately, ingredients in these products can cause irritation to the dermis or mucous membranes, thereby increasing the risk of infection. Adverse side effects also mean healthcare workers are less likely to follow proper disinfection guidelines. These shortcomings highlight the need for fully functional anti-infective agent that does not cause harmful dermal irritations.
This technology describes the addition of low concentrations of water-soluble zinc salts, essential natural oils, or fruit acids to aqueous and alcohol-based compositions to reduce dermal irritation while maintaining anti-infective properties. These compositions are effective in preventing irritation caused by spermicides, microbicides, fungicides, alcohol-based disinfectants, and other potentially-irritating therapeutic agents. Importantly, the concentration of these additives is low enough so that the risk of toxicity, inactivation of therapeutic compounds, and mucosal irritation are minimized. In addition, the large permutations of additives allows for both a broader spectrum of pathogens to be targeted. This technology is highly adaptable and can be used as a protective coating on gloves, condoms and medical devices.
This technology has been validated in healthcare workers who exhibit mild to moderate contact dermatitis from wearing latex gloves.
Patent Issued (US RE45,435](http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN/RE45435))
Patent Issued (US 8,207,148](http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN/8207148))
Patent Issued (US 7,759,327](http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN/7759327))
Patent Issued (US 7,745,425](http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN/7745425))
Patent Issued (US 7,435,429](http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN/7435429))
Patent Issued (US 7,951,840](http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN/7951840
IR 1583, 1733
Licensing Contact: Sara Gusik