Basic amino or ammonium antimicrobial agent-polyethylene glycol ester surfactant-betaine and/or amine oxide surfactant compositions and method of use therof

Abstract

Basic amino or ammonium antimicrobial agent (especially bisbiguanide, quaternary ammonium salt and bispyridine)-polyethylene glycol ester surfactant-betaine and/or amine oxide surfactant antimicrobial skin cleansing compositions and method of use thereof are disclosed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to basic amino or ammonium antimicrobial agent (especially bisbiguanide, quaternary ammonium salt and bispyridine)-polyethylene glycol ester surfactantbetaine and/or amine oxide surfactants antimicrobial skin cleansing compositions and method of use thereof.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Antimicrobial aryl bisbiguanides (U.S. Pat. No. 2,684,924; U.S. Pat. No. 4,053,636) including chlorhexidine (The Merck Index, Ninth Edition, 1976, monograph 2060) and chlorhexidine digluconate salt (U.S. Pat. No. 2,990,425) are known. U.S. Pat. No. 3,855,140 describes polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer cleansing compositions of certain chlorhexidine salts including chlorhexidine digluconate salt. Antimicrobial alkyl bisbiguanides (U.S. Pat. No. 3,468,898) including alexidine (The Merck Index, ibid., monograph 224) and aqueous compositions thereof with "a compatible surfactant or surfactant mixture selected from the cationic, non-ionic and amphoteric surfactants" (Belgian Pat. No. 862,808) and cycloalkyl bisbiguanides (U.S. Pat. No. 4,022,834) are also known.

The quaternary ammonium disinfectants (A. N. Petrocci, Disinfection, Sterilization, and Preservation, 2nd Edition, Seymour S. Block, Editor, Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia, 1977, pp. 325-347) are a well-known class of antimicrobial agents. Particularly well-known examples are benzalkonium chloride (The Merck Index, ibid., monograph 1059), benzethonium chloride (ibid., monograph 1078), cetylpyridinium chloride (ibid., monograph 1987), dequalinium chloride (ibid., monograph 2874) and N-myristyl-N-methylmorpholinium methyl sulfate.

Antimicrobial bispyridines and compositions thereof "with any compatible, pharmaceutically acceptable surfactant, preferably a non-ionic surfactant, such as the polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene copolymers . . . amine oxides, such as stearyl dimethyl amine oxide . . . or with mixtures of these" are described by British Pat. No. 1,533,952.

Numerous other basic amino and ammonium antimicrobial agents are described by the prior art, as illustrated by the following examples. Amidinoureas are described by U.S. Pat. No. 4,045,483. U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,441 describes bisphenoxybenzyldiamines. U.S. Pat. No. 3,775,477, U.S. Pat. No. 3,867,454 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,140,860 describe dioldiamines.

The polyethylene glycol or polyoxyethylene esters of fatty acids are a known class of surfactants (W. B. Satkowski, S. K. Huang and R. L. Liss in Nonionic Surfactants, Martin J. Schick, Editor, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 1967, pp. 142-174) of the nonionic type, members of which are listed by trade name (McCutcheon's Detergents & Emulsifiers, North American Edition, McCutcheon Division, MC Publishing Co., 175 Rock Road, Glen Rock, NJ 07452, 1977) and generic name (CTFA Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary, Second Edition, The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association, Inc., 1133 Fifteenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005, 1977).

The betaine surfactants are also known and are of the amphoteric type (McCutcheon's Detergents & Emulsifiers, ibid.; CTFA Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary, ibid.). Members of the class have antimicrobial properties as well as surfactant properties (Seymour S. Block, Disinfection, Sterilization, and Preservation, ibid., pp. 348-360).

The amine oxide detergents are also known and are of the nonionic type (AROMOX Amine Oxides, Product Data Bulletin No. 74-21 of Armak Company, Box 1805, Chicago, Ill., 60690, 1974; McCutcheon's Detergents and Emulsifiers, ibid., CTFA Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary, ibid.).

There is a need for antimicrobial skin cleansing compositions having better sudsing ability than the compositions of the prior art, especially those of above-cited U.S. Pat. No. 3,855,140. The presently described and claimed invention is designed to meet this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a composition of matter aspect the invention is an antimicrobial skin cleansing composition consisting essentially of

(A) an antimicrobially effective amount of one or more antimicrobial agents selected from the group consisting of (a) a compound having the structural formula ##STR1## wherein R taken alone is phenyl substituted by alkyl, alkoxy, nitro or halo, p-(2,2-dichlorocyclopropyl)phenyl, alkyl having from 6 to 16 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl or polycyclic alkyl having more than 6 carbon atoms or lower-alkyl-cycloalkyl or cycloalkyl-lower-alkyl having from 1 to 4 carbons in lower alkyl; R' taken alone is hydrogen; R and R' taken together are 3-azabicyclo(3,2,2)nonyl; and n is an integer from 3 to 9; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; (b) a compound having the structural formula ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1 is long-chain alkyl or aralkyl; R.sup.2 is short-chain alkyl, long-chain alkyl or aralkyl, benzyl or part of an aromatic system or non-aromatic system; R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are short-chain alkyl or part of an aromatic ring system or non-aromatic ring system; Z is a carbonhydrogen chain; and X is a pharmaceutically acceptable anion; and (c) a compound having the structural formula ##STR3## wherein R is an alkyl group containing from 6 to 18 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group containing from 5 to 7 carbon atoms, benzyl, benzyl substituted by one or two substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxy, lower-alkyl lower-alkoxy, nitro, cyano and trifluoromethyl or phenyl substituted by methylenedioxy or one or two substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen, lower-alkyl, lower-alkoxy, nitro, cyano and trifluoromethyl; Y is an alkylene group containing from 4 to 18 carbon atoms and separating the two 4-(R-NH)-1-pyridinyl groups by from 4 to 18 carbon atoms; A is a pharmaceutically acceptable anion; m is 1 or 3; n is 1 or 2; x is 1, 2 or 3; and (m)(2)=(n)(x); (B) from about 0.75% to about 30% by weight of one or more polyethylene glycol ester surfactants having the structural formulas ##STR4## wherein R is alkyl or alkenyl having from about 8 to about 20 carbon atoms or lanolin and n is an integer from about 8 to about 200; (C) from about 0.5% to about 30% by weight of one or more surfactants selected from (a) betaines having the structural formulas ##STR5## wherein R.sup.1 is alkyl or alkenyl having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 is methyl, ethyl or 2-hydroxyethyl; R.sup.3 is 2-hydroxyethyl or CH.sub.2 COO.sup.- ; R.sup.4 is CH.sub.2 COO.sup.- or CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --O--CH.sub.2 COO.sup.- ; and n is 2 or 3; and (b) amine oxides having the structural formula ##STR6## wherein R.sup.1 taken alone is methyl, ethyl or 2-hydroxyethyl; R.sup.2 taken alone is methyl, ethyl or 2-hydroxyethyl; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 taken together are morpholino; R.sup.3 is alkyl having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms or R.sup.4 CONH(CH.sub.2).sub.3 wherein R.sup.4 is alkyl having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, and wherein 2-hydroxyethyl can be condensed with from 1 to about 200 units of ethylene oxide; and (D) water, aqueous ethyl alcohol, aqueous isopropyl alcohol or an aqueous ethyl alcohol-isopropyl alcohol mixture.

The preferred amount of antimicrobial agent in the composition is from about 0.01% to about 10% by weight of the composition.

In a process aspect the invention is the process of reducing the number of microbes on living skin which comprises applying to the skin an antimicrobially effective amount of a composition consisting essentially of

(A) from about 0.01% to about 10% by weight of one or more antimicrobial agents selected from the group consisting of (a) a compound of Formula I, (b) a compound of Formula II or Formula III, (c) a compound of Formula IV; (B) from about 0.75% to about 30% by weight of one or more polyethylene glycol ester surfactants of Formula V, Formula VI and Formula VII; (C) from about 0.5% to about 30% by weight of one or more surfactants selected from (a) betaines of Formula VIII, Formula IX, Formula X, Formula XI and Formula XII; and (b) amine oxides of Formula XIII; and (D) water, aqueous ethyl alcohol, aqueous isopropyl alcohol or an aqueous ethyl alcohol-isopropyl alcohol mixture.

In a broader composition of matter aspect the invention is an antimicrobial skin cleansing composition consisting essentially of

(A) an antimicrobially effective amount of a basic amino or ammonium antimicrobial agent; (B) from about 0.75% to about 30% by weight of one or more polyethylene glycol ester surfactants of Formula V, Formula VI and Formula VIII; (C) from about 0.5% to about 30% by weight of one or more surfactants selected from (a) betaines of Formula VIII, Formula IX, Formula X, Formula XI and Formula XII; and (b) amine oxides of Formula XIII; and (D) water, aqueous ethyl alcohol, aqueous isopropyl alcohol or an aqueous ethyl alcohol-isopropyl alcohol mixture.

The preferred amount of antimicrobial agent in the composition is from about 0.01% to about 10% by weight of the composition.

In a broader process aspect the invention is the method of reducing the number of microbes on living skin which comprises applying to the skin an antimicrobially effective amount of a composition consisting essentially of

(A) from about 0.01% to about 10% by weight of a basic amino or ammonium antimicrobial agent; (B) from about 0.75% to about 30% by weight of one or more polyethylene glycol ester surfactants of Formula V, Formula VI and Formula VII; (C) from about 0.5% to about 30% by weight of one or more surfactants selected from (a) betaines of Formula VIII, Formula IX, Formula X, Formula XI and Formula XII; and (b) amine oxides of Formula XIII; and (D) water, aqueous ethyl alcohol, aqueous isopropyl alcohol or an aqueous ethyl alcohol-isopropyl alcohol mixture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION INCLUSIVE OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Compositions

The essential ingredients of the compositions are generally and, in most instances, particularly described by the prior art cited above. The compositions are prepared by conventional pharmaceutical methods and in addition to the essential ingredients may also include pharmaceutical adjuncts, for example, emollients, lubricants, stabilizers, dyes, perfumes and preservatives. It spite of the presence of the antimicrobial agent, a preservative may be necessary to prevent growth of microorganisms in the compositions. A pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base may also be added for pH adjustment.

Particularly preferred bisbiguanides are the following compounds of Formula I.

______________________________________Compound ofFormula R R' n______________________________________Ia p-ClC.sub.6 H.sub.5 H 6Ib ##STR7## H 6Ic CH.sub.3 (CH.sub.2).sub.3 CH(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2 H 6Id CH.sub.3 (CH.sub.2).sub.6 H 6______________________________________ The compound of Formula Ia is chlorhexidine (The Merck Index, ibid., monograph 2060). The compound of Formula Ic is alexidine (ibid., monograph 224). The digluconate salt (chlorhexidine gluconate) is a particularly preferred bisbiguanide salt.

A particularly preferred quaternary ammonium salt is benzalkonium chloride (ibid., monograph 1059; R is tetradecyl) (Roccal MC-14 Dihydrate:McCutcheon's Detergents and Emulsifiers, ibid., p. 214), which has the structural formula ##STR8##

The following bispyridines of Formula IV are particularly preferred.

______________________________________Com-pound ofFormula R Y A m n x______________________________________IVa CH.sub.3 (CH.sub.2).sub.6 (CH.sub.2).sub.12 Cl or Br 1 2 1IVb CH.sub.3 (CH.sub.2).sub.7 (CH.sub.2).sub.10 Cl or Br 1 2 1IVc ##STR9## (CH.sub.2).sub.12 Cl or Br 1 2 1______________________________________

Although any polyethylene glycol ester surfactant of Formula V, Formula VI or Formula VII and any betaine surfactant of Formula VIII, Formula IX, Formula X or Formula XI and any amine oxide surfactant of Formula XII can be used in carrying out this invention, specific members of each class may show advantages in specific application areas. Some that have been commercialized only recently are not listed in the current editions of CTFA Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary (ibid.) or McCutcheon's Detergents & Emulsifiers (ibid.).

Particularly preferred polyethylene glycol ester surfactants are tabulated below.

______________________________________ CTFA Cosmetic IngredientGeneric Name Dictionary Page______________________________________PEG-150 Laurate 219PEG-150 Distearate 211PEG-78 Glyceryl Cocoate 212(Cf. PEG-7 GlycerylCocoate)PEG-30 Glyceryl Cocoate 212(Cf. PEG-7 GlycerylCocoate)______________________________________

PEG-150 Laurate is the compound of Formula V wherein R is undecyl and n has an average value of 150. PEG-150 Distearate is the compound of Formula VI wherein R is heptadecyl and n has an average value of 150. PEG-78 Glyceryl Cocoate is the compound of Formula VII wherein ##STR10## represents the coconut acid radical and n has an average value of 78. PEG-30 Glyceryl Cocoate is the compound of Formula VII wherein ##STR11## represents the coconut acid radical and n has an average value of 30.

Particularly preferred betaine surfactants are tabulated below.

______________________________________ CTFA Cosmetic IngredientGeneric Name Type Dictionary Page______________________________________Coco-betaine Formula VIII 67Coco-sultaine Formula IX 68Cocamidopropyl Formula X 65BetaineCocamidopropyl Formula XI 66SultaineAmphoteric-1 Formula XII 24______________________________________

Coco-betaine is the compound of Formula VIII wherein R.sup.1 represents the coconut radical. Coco-sultaine is the compound of Formula IX wherein R.sup.1 represents the coconut radical. Cocamidopropyl Betaine is the compound of Formula X wherein n is 3, ##STR12## represents the coconut acid radical and R.sup.2 is methyl. Cocamidopropyl Sultaine is the compound of Formula XI wherein n is 3, ##STR13## represents the coconut acid radical and R.sup.2 is methyl. Amphoteric-1 is the compound of Formula XII wherein R.sup.1 represents the coconut radical, R.sup.3 is 2-hydroxyethyl and R.sup.4 is CH.sub.2 COO.sup.-.

Particularly preferred amine oxide surfactants are tabulated below.

______________________________________ CTFA Cosmetic IngredientGeneric Name Dictionary Page______________________________________Myristamine Oxide 179Coco-morpholine Oxide 67Cocamidopropylamine Oxide 65Dihydroxyethyl Cocamine Oxide 95______________________________________

Myristamine Oxide is the compound of Formula XIII wherein R.sup.1 is methyl, R.sup.2 is methyl and R.sup.3 is tetradecyl. Coco-morpholine Oxide is the compound of Formula XIII wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 taken together are morpholino and R.sup.3 represents the coconut radical. Cocamidopropylamine Oxide is the compound of Formula I wherein R.sup.1 is methyl, R.sup.2 is methyl and R.sup.3 is R.sup.4 CONH(CH.sub.2).sub.3 wherein R.sup.4 CO represents the coconut acid radical. Dihydroxyethyl Cocamine Oxide is the compound of Formula XIII wherein R.sup.1 is 2-hydroxyethyl, R.sup.2 is 2-hydroxyethyl and R.sup.3 is the coconut radical.

Compatibility

Compatability of the antimicrobial agents of Formula Id, Formula IIa, Formula IVa (A=Br), Formula IVb (A=Br) and Formula IVc (A=Br) with a prototype vehicle of the invention was tested by a serial dilution test against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538. Volumes of two milliliters were used. Dilutions were in tryptose-phosphate broth. Incubation was for 16-18 hours at 37.degree. C. Growth was verified with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride. The inoculum was 1.8.times.10.sup.5 viable cells per tube. There follows the formula of the prototype vehicle.

______________________________________Ingredient Percent by Weight______________________________________PEG-150 Laurate 12.0Isopropyl Alcohol* 3.22Cocamidopropyl Betaine 3.00Laneth-16 1.00Edetate Disodium 0.500PEG-150 Distearate 0.500PEG-2M 0.100Perfume 0.100FD&C Blue No. 1 0.000800FD&C Yellow No. 5 0.000320Gluconic Acid or Sodium pH about 5.5Hydroxide to makePurified Water to make 100.0______________________________________ Laneth-16 is the polyethylene glycol ether of Lanolin Alcohol with an average ethoxylation value of 16. PEG2M is the polymer of ethylene oxide having the structural formula H(OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.n OH wherein n ha an average value of 2000. *To make 4% by volume

The following results were obtained.

______________________________________Added Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) (.mu.g/ml)Vehicle of Compound of Formula(.mu.g/ml) Id.sup.+ IIa IVa.degree. IVb.degree. IVc.degree.______________________________________0 0.25 0.5 0.39 0.5 0.2515.6 0.25 0.5 0.195 0.5 0.2531.2 0.25 0.5 0.39 0.5 0.2562.5 0.25 0.5 0.39 0.5 0.25125.0 0.25 0.5 0.10 0.5 0.125250.0 0.25 0.5 0.10 0.25 0.0625500.0 0.25 0.5 0.10 0.125 0.1251000.0 0.25 1.0 0.195 0.125 0.1252000.0 0.50 1.0 0.10 0.125 0.1254000.0 0.50 1.95 0.195 0.25 0.258000.0 0.50 1.95 0.10 0.25 0.2516000.0 * * * * *32000.0 ** ** ** ** **64000.0 ** ** ** ** **______________________________________ .sup.+ Expressed as free base .degree.Expressed as cation *MIC of vehicle alone **No growth at this concentration of vehicle

It was concluded that each of the five antimicrobial agents tested was compatible with the prototype vehicle.

EXAMPLES

The following examples still more particularly describe the compositions of the invention.

EXAMPLE 1

______________________________________Ingredient Percent by Weight______________________________________Chlorhexidine Gluconate 4.00PEG-78 Glyceryl Cocoate 10.0Amphoteric-1 5.00Laneth-16 1.00Benzyl Alcohol 1.00Acetamide MEA 0.750PEG-30 Glyceryl Cocoate 0.500Color 0.00100Perfume 0.0500Gluconic Acid to make pH 2.19about 5.5, aboutPurified Water to make 100.0______________________________________ Acetamide MEA is N--(2hydroxyethyl)acetamide.

EXAMPLE 2

______________________________________Ingredient Percent by Weight______________________________________Compound of Formula IVb (A = Cl) 2.00PEG-150 Laurate 12.0Isopropyl Alcohol 3.22Cocamidopropyl Betaine 5.00Laneth-16 1.00Edetate Disodium 0.500PEG-150 Distearate 0.500PEG-2M 0.100Perfume 0.100Color 0.00100Sodium Hydroxide to make 0.023pH about 5.5Purified Water to make 100.00______________________________________

EXAMPLE 3

______________________________________Ingredient Percent by Weight______________________________________Compound of Formula IVb 2.00(A = Cl)PEG-78 Glyceryl Cocoate 10.0Dihydroxyethyl Cocoamine Oxide 5.00Citric Acid 0.384Sodium Hydroxide to make --pH about 5.5Purified Water to make 100.00______________________________________

EXAMPLE 4

______________________________________Ingredient Percent by Weight______________________________________Chlorhexidine Gluconate 4.00Amphoteric-1 2.50Cocamidopropylamine Oxide 2.00PEG-78 Glyceryl Cocoate 10.0PEG-30 Glyceryl Cocoate 0.500Laneth-16 1.00Acetamide MEA 0.750Color 0.00100Perfume 0.0500Gluconic Acid or Sodium Hy- --droxide to make pH about 5.5Acetic Acid 0.500Benzyl Alcohol 1.00Purified Water to make 100.00______________________________________

EXAMPLE 5

______________________________________Ingredient Percent by Weight______________________________________Chlorhexidine Gluconate 4.00Dihydroxyethyl Cocamine Oxide 3.00PEG-150 Distearate 0.750Laneth-16 1.00Benzyl Alcohol 2.00Perfume 0.100Color 0.00100Gluconic Acid or Sodium Hydroxide --to make pH about 5.5Purified Water to make 100.00______________________________________

Method of Use

The composition of Example 2 was tested for antimicrobial effect on human hands using a gloved-hand model (R. N. Michaud, M. B. McGrath and W. A. Goss, Journal of Clinical Microbiology, vol. 3, 1976, pp. 406-413). Twelve hands were randomly assigned for washes with the composition of Example 2, and twelve hands were randomly assigned for washes with a corresponding composition differing only by absence of the antimicrobial agent (control). Each hand was washed four times within six hours with a minimum of one hour between washes using five milliliters of each composition for each wash. During each wash the opposite hand of each person was protected with a surgical glove.

Microbiological samples for quantitative determination of aerobic resident bacteria were obtained from each hand immediately prior to the first wash (Wash 1 Pre), after a glove-wearing period of one hour subsequent to the first (Wash 1 T.sub.1), second (Wash 2 T.sub.1) and fourth (Wash 4 T.sub.1) washes, and after a non-glove-wearing period of twenty hours after the fourth wash (Wash 4 T.sub.20). Total bacterial counts per hand were expressed as logarithms to the base 10. The hand-degerming effect after one wash was evaluated as the bacterial reduction (Wash 1 Pre-Wash 1 T.sub.1), abbreviated (W.sub.1 Pre-W.sub.1 T.sub.1). Cumulative effects after two washes and four washes were evaluated as the bacterial reductions (Wash 1 Pre-Wash 2 T.sub.1), abbreviated (W.sub.1 Pre-W.sub.2 T.sub.1), and (Wash 1 Pre-Wash 4 T.sub.1), abbreviated (W.sub.1 Pre-W.sub.4 T.sub.1). Persistent effect was evaluated as the bacterial reduction (Wash 1 Pre-Wash 4 T.sub.20), abbreviated (W.sub.1 Pre-W.sub.4 T.sub.20).

Microbiological samples were taken by extracting each gloved hand with sampling fluid (100 ml. of 0.1% Triton X-100 in 0.074 M phosphate buffer at pH 7.8.+-.0.1). An aliquot (10 ml.) of each extract was mixed with chilled neutralizer (10 ml. of 0.0003 M potassium dihydrogen phosphate buffer of pH 7.2 containing 2% Tamol N Micro brand of sodium salt of condensed naphthalene sulfonic acid anionic dispersant). Decimal dilutions (10.sup.-1, 10.sup.-2, 10.sup.-3) of the neutralized aliquot were prepared in 0.0003 M KH.sub.2 PO.sub.4 buffer, pH 7.2, and were plated in triplicate with trypticase soy agar using the pour-plate technique. Plates were incubated aerobically at 30.degree..+-.2.degree. C. for 48-72 hours. A total colony count for each plate was determined using an automated colony counter. Average colony counts were used to estimate the total number of bacteria recovered per hand.

The following results were obtained

______________________________________ Number of Bacteria Mean (n = 12) Log.sub.10 Recovered Per HandSample Control Example 2______________________________________Wash 1 Pre 6.372 6.165Wash 1 T.sub.1 6.537 5.770Wash 2 T.sub.1 6.316 5.030Wash 4 T.sub.1 5.978 4.296Wash 4 T.sub.20 5.846 4.867______________________________________ Bacterial Reductions Mean (n = 12) Log.sub.10 Per HandDifference Control Example 2______________________________________W.sub.1 Pre - W.sub.1 T.sub.1 -0.166 0.394W.sub.1 Pre - W.sub.2 T.sub.1 0.055 1.135W.sub.1 Pre - W.sub.4 T.sub.1 0.393 1.869W.sub.1 Pre - W.sub.4 T.sub.20 0.525 1.297______________________________________ The foregoing mean log.sub.10 bacterial reductions were significantly greater (P.ltoreq.0.01) for the hands treated with the composition of Example 2 than for the hands treated with the control composition.

Opacified Compositions

The foregoing examples of the compositions aspect of the invention are clear as contrasted with opaque. By addition of appropriate ingredients compositions according to the invention can be opacified and emulsified as illustrated by the following examples.

EXAMPLE 6

______________________________________Ingredient Percent by Weight______________________________________Chlorhexidine Gluconate 1.00PEG-78 Glyceryl Cocoate 10.0EMPIGEN OB (Tertiary Alkylamine 10.0Oxide 30%)White Soft Paraffin 6.0Dihydroxyethyl Cocamine Oxide 5.26Acetamide MEA (75%) 1.0Benzyl Alcohol 1.0Polysorbate 60 1.0Sorbitan Stearate 1.00Gluconic Acid to make pH 5.8 --Purified Water to make 100.0______________________________________ Polysobate 60 is a mixture of stearate esters of sorbitol and sorbitol anhydrides, consisting predominantly of the monoester, condensed with approximately 20 moles of ethylene oxide. Sorbitan Stearate is the monoester of stearic and hexitol anhydrides derived from sorbitol.

EXAMPLE 7

is the same as Example 6 except tht the percent by weight of chlorhexidine gluconate is increased to 4.00.

Comparative Sudsing Test and Sudsing Attribute Evaluation

In order to show that the presently described and claimed invention achieves its above-stated objective to provide antimicrobial skin cleansing compositions having better sudsing ability than the compositions of the prior art, the following comparative in vitro sudsing test and in vivo sudsing attribute evaluation were conducted.

In Vitro Sudsing Test

The compositions compared in this test were the composition of Example 1 of the present specification, the composition of Example 1 of the present specification excluding chlorhexidine gluconate, and Hibiclens, which is a commercial polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer antimicrobial skin cleansing composition containing chlorhexidine gluconate and which is considered to be the composition described by EXAMPLE 1 of above-cited U.S. Pat. No. 3,855,140. The composition of Example 1 of the present specification excluding chlorhexidine gluconate was tested in this test in order to show that the absence of the chlorhexidine gluconate does not significantly affect sudsability. This was necessary because, without approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration and due to the presence of the chlorhexidine gluconate, the composition of Example 1 of the present specification could not be evaluated in the in vivo sudsing attribute evaluation described below, which was conducted in humans.

The test composition (0.25 g.) was diluted to 100 ml. with artificially hardened water (0.3 g. calcium chloride in 1 l. of distilled water) in a 250 ml. stoppered graduate cylinder. Lanolin oil (0.05 g.) was added to simulate the natural oil of human hands. The cylinder was rotated end over end at a constant rate and the foam volume was read after 25, 50, 75 and 100 rotations. Five cylinders were used for each composition. The mean foam volumes and standard deviations for each composition were calculated, affording the following results:

______________________________________Number of Foam Volume (ml.)Rotations 25 50 75 100______________________________________Example 1 132 .+-. 4.5 142 .+-. 7.7 164 .+-. 10.5 173 .+-. 6.6Example 1 127 .+-. 6.0 135 .+-. 10.9 149 .+-. 13.7 162 .+-. 22.3withoutChlorhexidineGluconateHibiclens 107 .+-. 2.3 111 .+-. 2.6 115 .+-. 2.6 120 .+-. 3.8______________________________________ The means for Example 1 with or without chlorhexidine gluconate are significantly different from the means for Hibiclens (P<0.01). The means for Example 1 with chlorhexidine gluconate are not significantly different from the means for Example 1 without chlorhexidine gluconate (P<0.1).

In Vivo Sudsing Attribute Evaluation

Since Hibiclens is red in color and the preferred color of the composition of Example 1 of the present specification is green, both a red formulation and a green formulation according to Example 1 (Both lacking chlorhexidine gluconate) were tested. The results were not significantly affected by the difference in color.

Ten persons participated in the evaluation. Each person was instructed to: (1) wash his or her hands with soap and water, (2) rinse the hands and leave them wet, (3) apply one teaspoonful of the skin cleansing compositions to the hands, (4) wash the hands with the skin cleanser for one full minute, adding water as desired, (5) rinse the hands, (6) dry the hands with a towel and (7) repeat steps (1) through (6) three times allowing at least one hour between repetitions.

Each person was instructed to evaluate the skin cleansing composition with regard to four criteria relating to sudsing and to assign one of five values to each criterion as follows: Criteria: initial or flash foam, foam quantity, foam texture, foam stability. Criterion values: poor, fair, mediocre, good, excellent.

The five criterion values were assigned the following numerical values: poor, 0; fair, 25; mediocre, 50; good, 75; excellent, 100. The criterion values for each criterion were averaged and gave the following results:

______________________________________ Criterion Value Example 1 Example 1 Without Without Chlorhexidine Chlorhexidine Gluconate Gluconate HibiclensCriterion (Green) (Red) (Red)______________________________________Initial or 78 .+-. 8 78 .+-. 8 23 .+-. 28Flash FoamFoam Quantity 85 .+-. 13 78 .+-. 8 35 .+-. 32Foam Texture 83 .+-. 17 80 .+-. 11 35 .+-. 32Foam Stability 83 .+-. 17 78 .+-. 8 38 .+-. 34______________________________________ All of the criterion values for Example 1 without chlorhexidine gluconate are significantly different from those of Hibiclens (P<0.01).

Claims

1. An antimicrobial skin cleansing composition consisting essentially of

(A) an antimicrobially effective amount of one or more antimicrobial agents selected from the group consisting of

(a) a compound having the structural formula ##STR14## wherein R taken alone is phenyl substituted by alkyl, alkoxy, nitro or halo, p-(2,2-dichlorocyclopropyl)phenyl, alkyl having from 6 to 16 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl or polycyclic alkyl having more than 6 carbon atoms or lower-alkyl-cycloalkyl or cycloalkyl-lower-alkyl having from 1 to 4 carbons in lower alkyl; R' taken alone is hydrogen; R and R' taken together are 3-azabicyclo(3,2,2)nonyl; and n is an integer from 3 to 9; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;

(b) a compound having the structural formula ##STR15## wherein R.sup.1 is long-chain alkyl or aralkyl; R.sup.2 is short-chain alkyl, long-chain alkyl or aralkyl, benzyl or part of an aromatic system or non-aromatic system; R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are short-chain alkyl or part of an aromatic ring system or non-aromatic ring system; Z is a carbon-hydrogen chain; and X is a pharmaceutically acceptable anion; and

(c) a compound having the structural formula ##STR16## wherein R is an alkyl group containing from 6 to 18 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group containing from 5 to 7 carbon atoms, benzyl, benzyl substituted by one or two substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxy, lower-alkyl, lower-alkoxy, nitro, cyano and trifluoromethyl or phenyl substituted by methylenedioxy or one or two substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen, lower-alkyl, lower-alkoxy, nitro, cyano and trifluoromethyl;

Y is an alkylene group containing from 4 to 18 carbon atoms and separating the two 4-(R-NH)-1-pyridinyl groups by from 4 to 18 carbon atoms;

A is a pharmaceutically acceptable anion;

m is 1 or 3;

n is 1 or 2;

x is 1, 2 or 3; and

(m)(2)=(n)(x);

(B) from about 0.75% to about 30% by weight of one or more polyethylene glycol ester surfactants having the structural formulas ##STR17## wherein R is alkyl or alkenyl having from about 8 to about 20 carbon atoms or lanolin and n is an integer from about 8 to about 200;

(C) from about 0.5% to about 30% by weight of one or more surfactants selected from the group consisting of

(a) betaines having the structural formulas ##STR18## wherein R.sup.1 is alkyl or alkenyl having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 is methyl, ethyl or 2-hydroxyethyl; R.sup.3 is 2-hydroxyethyl or CH.sub.2 COO.sup.- ; R.sup.4 is CH.sub.2 COO.sup.- or CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 -O-CH.sub.2 COO.sup.- ; an n is 2 or 3; and

(b) amine oxides having the structural formula ##STR19## wherein R.sup.1 taken alone is methyl, ethyl or 2-hydroxyethyl; R.sup.2 taken alone is methyl, ethyl or 2-hydroxyethyl; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 taken together are morpholino; R.sup.3 is alkyl having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms or R.sup.4 CONH(CH.sub.2).sub.3 wherein R.sup.4 is alkyl having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms; and wherein 2-hydroxyethyl can be condensed with from 1 to about 200 units of ethylene oxide; and

(D) water, aqueous ethyl alcohol, aqueous isopropyl alcohol or an aqueous ethyl alcohol-isopropyl alcohol mixture.

2. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the amount of antimicrobial agent is from about 0.01% to about 10% by weight of the composition.

3. The process of reducing the number of microbes on living skin which comprises applying to the skin an antimicrobially effective amount of a composition according to claim 2.

4. An antimicrobial skin cleansing composition consisting essentially of

(A) an antimicrobially effective amount of one or more antimicrobial agents selected from the group consisting of a compound having the structural formula ##STR20## wherein R taken alone is phenyl substituted by alkyl, alkoxy, nitro or halo, p-(2,2-dichlorocyclopropyl)phenyl, alkyl having from 6 to 16 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl or polycyclic alkyl having more than 6 carbon atoms or lower-alkyl-cycloalkyl or cycloalkyl-lower-alkyl having from 1 to 4 carbons in lower alkyl; R' taken alone is hydrogen; R and R' taken together are 3-azabicyclo(3,2,2)nonyl; and n is an integer from 3 to 9; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;

(B) from about 0.75% to about 30% by weight of one or more polyethylene glycol ester surfactants having the structural formulas ##STR21## wherein R is alkyl or alkenyl having from about 8 to about 20 carbon atoms or lanolin and n is an integer from about 8 to about 200;

(C) from about 0.5% to about 30% by weight of one or more surfactants selected from the group consisting of

(a) betaines having the structural formulas ##STR22## wherein R.sup.1 is alkyl or alkenyl having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 is methyl, ethyl or 2-hydroxyethyl; R.sup.3 is 2-hydroxyethyl or CH.sub.2 COO.sup.- ; R.sup.4 is CH.sub.2 COO.sup.- or CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 -O-CH.sub.2 COO.sup.- ; and n is 2 or 3; and

(b) amine oxides having the structural formula ##STR23## wherein R.sup.1 taken alone is methyl, ethyl or 2-hydroxyethyl; R.sup.2 taken alone is methyl, ethyl or 2-hydroxyethyl; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 taken together are morpholino; R.sup.3 is alkyl having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms or R.sup.4 CONH(CH.sub.2).sub.3 wherein R.sup.4 is alkyl having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, and wherein 2-hydroxyethyl can be condensed with from 1 to about 200 units of ethylene oxide; and

(D) water, aqueous ethyl alcohol, aqueous isopropyl alcohol or an aqueous ethyl alcohol-isopropyl alcohol mixture.

5. A composition according to claim 4 wherein the amount of antimicrobial agent is from about 0.01% to about 10% by weight of the composition.

6. The process of reducing the number of microbes on living skin which comprises applying to the skin an antimicrobially effective amount of a composition according to claim 5.

7. A composition according to claim 5 wherein the antimicrobial agent is chlorhexidine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

8. The process of reducing the number of microbes on living skin which comprises applying to the skin an antimicrobially effective amount of a composition according to claim 7.

9. A composition according to claim 7 wherein the salt is the digluconate salt.

10. The process of reducing the number of microbes on living skin which comprises applying to the skin an antimicrobially effective amount of a composition according to claim 9.

11. A composition according to claim 9 wherein the surfactant of part (C) is a betaine.

12. A composition according to claim 11 wherein the betaine has the structural formula ##STR24## wherein R.sup.1 represents the coconut radical, R.sup.3 is 2-hydroxyethyl and R.sup.4 is CH.sub.2 COO.sup.-.

13. A composition according to claim 12 which contains two polyethylene glycol ester surfactants of part (B), both having the structural formula ##STR25## wherein ##STR26## represents the coconut acid radical, one wherein n has an average value of 78 and the other wherein n has an average value of 30.

14. The process of reducing the number of microbes on living skin which comprises applying to the skin an antimicrobially effective amount of a composition according to claim 11.

15. An antimicrobial skin cleansing composition consisting essentially of

(A) an antimicrobially effective amount of one or more antimicrobial agents selected from the group consisting of a compound having the structural formula ##STR27## wherein R.sup.1 is long-chain alkyl or aralkyl; R.sup.2 is short-chain alkyl, long-chain alkyl or aralkyl, benzyl or part of an aromatic system or non-aromatic system; R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are short-chain alkyl or part of an aromatic ring system or non-aromatic ring system; Z is a carbon-hydrogen chain; and X is a pharmaceutically acceptable anion;

(B) from about 0.75% to about 30% by weight of one or more polyethylene glycol ester surfactants having the structural formulas ##STR28## wherein R is alkyl or alkenyl having from about 8 to about 20 carbon atoms or lanolin and n is an integer from about 8 to about 200;

(C) from about 0.5% to about 30% by weight of one or more surfactants selected from the group consisting of

(a) betaines having the structural formulas ##STR29## wherein R.sup.1 is alkyl or alkenyl having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 is methyl, ethyl or 2-hydroxyethyl; R.sup.3 is 3-hydroxyethyl or CH.sub.2 COO.sup.- ; R.sup.4 is CH.sub.2 COO.sup.- or CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --O--CH.sub.2 COO.sup.- ; and n is 2 or 3; and

(b) amine oxides having the structural formula ##STR30## wherein R.sup.1 taken alone is methyl, ethyl or 2-hydroxyethyl; R.sup.2 taken alone is methyl, ethyl or 2-hydroxyethyl; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 taken together are morpholino; R.sup.3 is alkyl having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms or R.sup.4 CONH(CH.sub.2).sub.3 wherein R.sup.4 is alkyl having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, and wherein 2-hydroxyethyl can be condensed with from 1 to about 200 units of ethylene oxide; and

(D) water, aqueous ethyl alcohol, aqueous isopropyl alcohol or an aqueous ethyl alcohol-isopropyl alcohol mixture.

16. A composition according to claim 15 wherein the amount of antimicrobial agent is from about 0.01% to about 10% by weight of the composition.

17. The process of reducing the number of microbes on living skin which comprises applying to the skin an antimicrobially effective amount of a composition according to claim 16.

18. A composition according to claim 16 wherein the antimicrobial agent is benzalkonium chloride.

19. The process of reducing the number of microbes on living skin which comprises applying to the skin an antimicrobially effective amount of a composition according to claim 18.

20. An antimicrobial skin cleansing composition consisting essentially of

(A) an antimicrobially effective amount of one or more antimicrobial agents selected from the group consisting of a compound having the structural formula ##STR31## wherein R is an alkyl group containing from 6 to 18 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group containing from 5 to 7 carbon atoms, benzyl, benzyl substituted by one or two substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxy, lower-alkyl, lower-alkoxy, nitro, cyano and trifluoromethyl or phenyl substituted by methylenedioxy or one or two substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen, lower-alkyl, lower-alkoxy, nitro, cyano and trifluoromethyl;

Y is an alkylene group containing from 4 to 18 carbon atoms and separating the two 4-(R-NH)-1-pyridinyl groups by from 4 to 18 carbon atoms;

A is a pharmaceutically acceptable anion;

m is 1 or 3;

n is 1 or 2;

x is 1, 2 or 3; and

(m)(2)=(n)(x);

(B) from about 0.75% to about 30% by weight of one or more polyethylene glycol ester surfactants having the structural formulas ##STR32## wherein R is alkyl or alkenyl having from about 8 to about 20 carbon atoms or lanolin and n is an integer from about 8 to about 200;

(C) from about 0.5% to about 30% by weight of one or more surfactants selected from the group consisting of

(a) betaines having the structural formulas ##STR33## wherein R.sup.1 is alkyl or alkenyl having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 is methyl, ethyl or 2-hydroxyethyl; R.sup.3 is 2-hydroxyethyl or CH.sub.2 COO.sup.- ; R.sup.4 is CH.sub.2 COO.sup.- or CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --O--CH.sub.2 COO.sup.- ; and n is 2 or 3; and

(b) amine oxides having the structural formula ##STR34## wherein R.sup.1 taken alone is methyl, ethyl or 2-hydroxyethyl; R.sup.2 taken alone is methyl, ethyl or 2-hydroxyethyl; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 taken together are morpholino; R.sup.3 is alkyl having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms or R.sup.4 CONH(CH.sub.2).sub.3 wherein R.sup.4 is alkyl having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, and wherein 2-hydroxyethyl can be condensed with from 1 to about 200 units of ethylene oxide; and

(D) water, aqueous ethyl alcohol, aqueous isopropyl alcohol or an aqueous ethyl alcohol-isopropyl alcohol mixture.

21. A composition according to claim 20 wherein the amount of antimicrobial agent is from about 0.01% to about 10% by weight of the composition.

22. The process of reducing the number of microbes on living skin which comprises applying to the skin an antimicrobially effective amount of a composition according to claim 21.

23. A composition according to claim 21 wherein in the structural formula of the antimicrobial agent R is CH.sub.3 (CH.sub.2).sub.7, Y is (CH.sub.2).sub.10, A is Cl or Br, m is 1, n is 2 and x is 1.

24. The process of reducing the number of microbes on living skin which comprises applying to the skin an antimicrobially effective amount of a composition according to claim 23.

25. A composition according to claim 23 wherein the surfactant of part (C) is a betaine.

26. The process of reducing the number of microbes on living skin which comprises applying to the skin an antimicrobially effective amount of a composition according to claim 25.

27. A composition according to claim 23 wherein the surfactant of part (C) is an amine oxide.

28. A composition according to claim 27 wherein in the amine oxide having the structural formula ##STR35## R.sup.1 is hydroxyethyl, R.sup.2 is hydroxyethyl and R.sup.3 is the coconut radical.

29. A composition according to claim 27 wherein the polyethylene glycol surfactant of part (B) has the structural formula ##STR36## wherein ##STR37## represents the coconut acid radical and n has an average value of 78.

30. The process of reducing the number of microbes on living skin which comprises applying to the skin an antimicrobially effective amount of a composition according to claim 27.

31. An antimicrobial skin cleansing composition consisting essentially of

(A) an antimicrobially effective amount of chlorhexidine gluconate;

(B) from about 0.75% to about 30% by weight of two polyethylene glycol ester surfactants having the structural formula ##STR38## wherein ##STR39## represents the coconut acid radical, one wherein n has an average value of 78 and the other wherein n has an average value of 30;

(C) from about 0.5% to about 30% by weight of a betaine surfactant having the structural formula ##STR40## wherein R.sup.1 represents the coconut radical, R.sup.3 is 2-hydroxyethyl and R.sup.4 is CH.sub.2 COO.sup.- ; and

(D) water.