MX2008002346A - Disinfectant with quaternary ammonium polymers and copolymers - Google Patents

Abstract

An alcohol-soluble, water-insoluble, disinfectant composition and a method of using the same for disinfecting and for providing a prolonged antimicrobial property to a variety of surfaces, including skin. The composition comprises an antimicrobial polymer that is capable of imparting an antimicrobial property to a surface without the use of a metal or metal-containing compound. The composition is applied to a surface and allowed to evaporate leaving a coating of antimicrobial polymer.

Description

DISINFECTANT WITH QUATERNARY AMMONIUM POLYMERS AND COPOLYMERS TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to disinfectants for surfaces, including the skin, that provide sustained antimicrobial activity for prolonged periods after application to the surface. BACKGROUND TECHNIQUE Human and animal health can be adversely affected by many microorganisms, including bacteria, yeast, fungi, mold and protozoa. Human and animal contact with microorganisms is known to cause a wide variety of diseases, conditions and ailments. It is well known that washing hard surfaces (eg, food preparation surfaces and surgical room equipment), food (eg fruits and vegetables), and skin (eg hands) with soap and water, can remove many microorganisms from those surfaces. The removal of microorganisms by washing hands with soap is largely due to a combination of soap surfactance and the mechanical action of the washing process. Because soap washing is effective in removing a substantial number of microorganisms already present, but has only a minimal, if any, duration or persistent effect on microorganisms that subsequently come into contact with already washed hands, it is often recommended that people wash their hands frequently in order to reduce the spread of viruses, bacteria and other microorganisms. Compliance with this recommendation is important for the health and personal hygiene of an individual, but is especially important for individuals working in the health and food industries. Antimicrobial cleaning products for the removal of microorganisms from surfaces, including the skin, are available in a variety of types. The much more common types used for personal hygiene and for personnel working in the health and food industries, include those that contain soaps and those that contain alcohol. Traditional rinse disinfectant products such as detergents and soaps are generally effective in reducing the number of microorganisms present on a surface when appropriate procedures are employed. For example, dial® liquid soaps containing triclosan, when used for hand washing, have been shown to reduce the number of bacteria present on the skin by approximately 2.0-2.5 orders of magnitude (99.0-99.7%) after a 30-second hand wash, as measured by the Personal Health Hand Wash Testing Standards (HCPHWT). In other words, after washing, the washed skin is contaminated with only 0.3% -1.0% of the number of bacteria that was unwashed skin before the 30 second hand wash. Although, when used properly, soaps are able to remove most bacteria that are present, the persistence of any antimicrobial activity that remains on the minimum surfaces, so immediately after hand washing, the recombination of hands begins to occur through contact with other contaminated surfaces. In addition, because these traditional rinse disinfectant products were developed for use in a washing process that uses a substantial amount of water. Its use is limited to locations where a substantial amount of water is available. Another commonly used type of disinfectant are those products that contain relatively high levels of alcohol. Alcohol-based disinfectants result in the removal of an immediate inactivation of a substantial portion of microorganisms present on the treated surface. Alcohol-based disinfectants, typically ethanol, have an additional advantage as disinfectants because alcohol evaporates easily from the skin at body temperature. Purell® is an example of a skin disinfectant that uses alcohol as the active ingredient. AgainAlthough properly applied alcohol-based disinfectants are generally effective in removing or destroying bacteria that are present on the skin prior to application, immediately after treatment, recontamination of the treated skin begins to occur through contact with other contaminated surfaces. . Recent studies indicate that alcohol-based disinfectants with less than approximately 60% alcohol content may not be adequate to provide a desirable degree of antimicrobial activity, and alcohol contents above 95% are also less potent because proteins they are not easily denatured in the absence of water ["Hand Igiene Revised: Another Look at Hand Sani ti zers and An tiba Cterial Soap" SAFEFQQD NEWS - Spring 2004 - Vol 8 No. 3, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension]. Other water-soluble active ingredients have been used in disinfectants for the skin, instead of, or in combination with, alcohol. Birnbaum et al., (US Patent 6,441,045) discloses a water-soluble quaternary compound for use as a disinfectant for the skin. Beerse et al., (US Patent 6,217,887) discloses an antimicrobial composition for the skin that is proposed to be left over before rinsing, which contains an antimicrobial active, an anionic surfactant, a proton donor agent, in a solution containing up to 98.85. % of water. Petersen et al., (US Patent 6,627,207) discloses a fast-drying, water-based, gel-type disinfectant composition having a low alcohol content (<30%). Osborne et al. (U.S. Patents 5,776,430 and 5,906,808) disclose a topical antimicrobial cleansing composition containing 0.65-0.85% chlorhexidine gluconate, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, and 50-60% denatured alcohol. Kross (U.S. Patent 5,597,561) discloses adherent disinfectant composition, based on water directed to the prevention of microbial infections, containing protic acid, a mental chloride, and a gelling agent, Smyth et al., (US Patent 5,916,568) discloses a disinfectant For quick drying hands composed of alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and an emollient to wear to prevent skin irritation. Sawan et al., (US Pat. No. 6,180,584) discloses a disinfectant composition comprised of a film-forming material, polymeric, and a metal biocide in a carrier, which, when applied to a surface, forms a water-insoluble polymer film on the surface on which the biocide does not bind leachably, formed in complex with, associated, or dispersed. Causton et al., (U.S. Patent 5,869,600) discloses the use of water-soluble, water-insoluble copolymers containing some level of quaternary ammonium groups for use as film forming polymers used as deodorants. Other methods have employed methods that bind silane-based quaternary ammonium compounds reactive to particular substrates via a siloxane linkage. For example, the AEGIS Environments product line includes products that use polymers of 3- (trimethoxysilyl) propyldimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride, and are generally applied using alcohol-based solutions. According to the product literature, AEM 5700 is 43% 3- (trimethoxysilyl) propyldimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride in methanol, which can be used to coat the surface of textiles and other objects. This method results in the formation of a permanent covalent bond between the antimicrobial quaternary ammonium compound and the surface being treated. The removal of the applied antimicrobial is thus almost impossible, even using alcohol-based solvents. In addition, the reactive trimethoxysilyl compounds are toxic and not suitable for use on the skin. Sawan (U.S. Patent 6264936) discloses an antimicrobial material that can be used to form on the surface of a substrate an antimicrobial coating or layer that kills microorganisms in contact. The antimicrobial coating or layer characterized in the "non-leaching" reference is a combination of an organic matrix immobilized on the surface of the substrate having biocidal metallic materials associated with the matrix. When a microorganism makes contact with the coating or layer, the biocidal metal material is transferred to the microorganism in sufficient quantities to kill it. Specifically, the metallic antimicrobial agent used is silver. Although this method proposes to provide a "non-leachable" coating, the mere fact that the metallic antimicrobial agent "is transferred" to the microorganism is contrary to the common definition of non-leachable. Furthermore, it is known that although silver and silver salts have very low solubility, the mechanism of antimicrobial activity is dependent on a concentration of infinite solution of silver ions. Actually, Sawan later (column 3, line 9) qualifies the previous statement to read "substantially low leachable". In a preferred embodiment of the Sawan patent, the organic material comprises a polyhexamethylene biguanide polymer that is crosslinked with an epoxide such as N, N-bismethylene diglycidylaniline, to form a network or crosslinked matrix.

This crosslinking step is necessary to prevent the dissolution of the matrix. The materials described by Sawan generally require a curing step, generally in the range of 80 ° to 120 ° C, which is unsuitable for many substrates, particularly human skin. In addition, the preferred organic matrix polymer (polyhexamethylene biguanide) is known to be toxic to human cells in high concentrations (see U.S. Patent 6,369,289 Bl). The use of silver as an antimicrobial agent also incurs some undesirable effects. A disadvantage to this procedure is that certain bacteria have been able to develop resistance to silver. (Silver S., "Bacterial silver resistance: molecular biology and uses and misuses of silver compounds" FEMS Microbiology Reviews, 2003; 27: 341-353). Another disadvantage of this method is that the diffusion of silver may be able to enter the wound and can potentially stain the skin. An additional disadvantage of silver is the high cost of raw material. Similar procedures are described in U.S. Patents 6,180,584; 6,126,931; 6.030632; 5,869,073, 5,849,311; and 5,817,325. There is a need for improved means and methods to disinfect surfaces, not only for improved personal hygiene, but also to reduce potential sources of contamination in both the health and food industries. With non-persistent disinfectants commonly used, personnel in the health industry (eg doctors, nurses and patients) and the food industry (eg food handlers, food preparers, cooks, and servers) must apply a disinfectant, such as soap, to your skin several, and sometimes 20 or more times, a day consequently, there is a need, for personal hygiene and hygiene within the health and food industries, for a disinfectant that can effectively disinfect a surface and persist actively on that surface to combat microorganisms that come into contact subsequently with the treated surface. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION The need for a persistent, effective surface disinfectant is considered in all aspects of the health industry. It is an aspect of the current invention that the invention would be useful for disinfecting the skin prior to surgery, injection, phlebotomy, catheter insertion. Microorganisms present a threat to the health and safety of patients whenever the skin is penetrated, broken, or cracked. For example, such pathogens may be a period during surgical procedures. Without proper disinfection of the incision site prior to surgery, microorganisms present on the skin gain access to the incision during or after surgery and cause infection. To prevent such infections, it is critical to disinfect the incision site prior to surgery with a disinfectant that possesses high antimicrobial activity and a broad spectrum of action. Since surgical procedures can last for many hours, it is also important that initial disinfection of the incision site persist and provide sustained antimicrobial activity for a prolonged period of time. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration requires that a pre-surgical skin disinfectant be able to reduce the number of flora on dry skin areas, such as an abdomen, by at least 2.5 orders of magnitude or at levels that they are very low for reliable quantification (less than about 25 cfu / cm2). On moist skin, such as inguinal areas, the disinfectant should reduce the initial bacterial population by a minimum of 3.2 logs (1.5 x 103 cfu / mL) and be able to maintain this level for at least four hours. The need for an effective, persistent, and durable surface disinfectant is also considered in all aspects of the food industry, which includes food collection (eg cow udder sanitation), food processing (eg slaughterhouses), food packaging (eg fish canner), and food distribution (eg restaurants and food stores). It is an aspect of the current invention that the composition would be useful to any person having food handling responsibilities and particularly useful for any appropriate hygiene that becomes difficult because the same individual has both food handling and management responsibilities. money (for example, store cashiers and wait staff). The ability of many organisms to develop resistance to antimicrobial compounds is a serious problem. Reports of uncontrolled infections of organisms such as Staph. urease resistant to metacycline (MSRA) abound in new media. Such resistance is known to occur by many antibiotics, as well as by metal-based systems (such as silver). Quaternary ammonium compounds, on the other hand, do not promote the development of resistant organisms. DEFINITIONS As used herein, the following terms have the following meanings: "Microbe" or "microorganism" refers to any organism or combination of organisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, yeasts, fungi, molds or spores formed by any from those. "Antimicrobial" refers to the microbiocidal or microbiostatic properties with a compound, composition, article, or material that allows to exterminate, destroy, inactivate, or neutralize a microorganism; or to prevent growth, ability to survive, or spread of a microorganism. A "disinfectant" is an agent that destroys, neutralizes, or otherwise interferes with the growth or survival of microorganisms. "Alcohol" means a volatile liquid having the formula CnH2n +? OH where n is from 1 to 4. "Soluble" means that the substance is capable of being dissolved in an amount of a specified liquid, such as alcohol or water. "Easily soluble" means that the solute in question is virtually 100% soluble, capable of forming a solution at room temperature containing up to 20% by weight of the solute, in a specified solvent, for example a particular alcohol. "Insoluble" means that the substance will not dissolve significantly in a large excess, (eg> 100-fold) of a particular solvent, for example water. "Volatile" means that the solvent or liquid evaporates completely at room temperature.

"Durable" means insoluble in water, not easily removed by, for example, perspiration, incidental contact with aqueous fluids, or light washing with aqueous fluids. "Contact exhaustion" means a means to destroy that which does not require leaching, elution, or release of contact at levels that would result in fluid disinfection. "Antimicrobial metallic material" means a metal, such as colloidal silver, or metal salt, in a form capable of imparting antimicrobial activity to a composition. This invention provides antimicrobial activity in the absence of an antimicrobial metal material. The present invention provides a disinfectant composition comprising an antimicrobial polymer, insoluble in water, soluble in alcohol suitable for disinfecting and providing a prolonged antimicrobial property to a variety of surfaces, including the skin. The invention provides a disinfectant composition, comprising an antimicrobial polymer in an alcohol-containing solvent, wherein the antimicrobial polymer is readily soluble in alcohol, but insoluble in water, and wherein the solvent serves as a carrier for applying the antimicrobial polymer to a surface, through which the surface acquires a coating of the antimicrobial polymer. It is an advantage of the invention that the antimicrobial polymer imparts a durable antimicrobial activity to the surface. It is an aspect of the invention that the antimicrobial polymer is selected so that its antimicrobial activity occurs by virtue of a contact killing mechanism, which does not require leaching, elution, or release in contact fluids at levels that would result in disinfection of fluid. On the other hand it is preferred that the antimicrobial polymer is not leached, eluted or appreciably released from the surface to which the antimicrobial composition is applied. In particular embodiments of the invention, the solvent containing alcohol or contains at least one alcohol selected from the group consisting of ethanol, methanol, and isopropanol. In particular embodiments of this invention, the alcohol content of the disinfectant solution is between 60% and 95% by weight. In particular embodiments of the invention, the antimicrobial polymer may consist essentially of molecules that are comprised of at least one monomer portion containing allyl or vinyl. In some embodiments of the invention the antimicrobial polymer consists essentially of molecules that are comprised of at least one monomeric portion containing quaternary ammonium. It is an aspect of this invention that the quaternary ammonium moieties are covalently bound to the polymer, or adhered to the molecular structure of the antimicrobial polymer by covalent chemical bonds, and are part of the molecular structure of the polymer, and that the quaternary ammonium moieties they are located in either the polymer backbone, or in the polymer side groups. "Main chain" and "side groups" are terms commonly used to describe the molecular structure of the polymer and will be familiar to one skilled in the art. Some of the antimicrobial polymeric molecules used in the present invention can be synthesized by growth stage polymerization, such as by reacting a difunctional alcohol with a diisocyanate to form a polyurethane polymer containing at least one quaternary ammonium group in a monomeric portion that binds to the molecular structure of the polymer through covalent chemical bonding. Preferably, the number of quaternary ammonium groups in the polyurethane polymer will be at least one mole (6.02 x 1023) per 650 grams of polyurethane polymer. More preferably, the number of quaternary ammonium groups in the polyurethane polymer will be at least one mole (6.02 x 1023) per 350 grams of polyurethane polymer. Polymeric antimicrobial molecules can have an average degree of polymerization of 5 to 25,000; preferably from 50 to 10,000; and more preferably from 100 to 5,000. In one aspect of the invention, the disinfectant composition is applied to a surface, the surface that may be the skin of an animal, the skin of a human, a non-living porous surface, or a non-porous non-living surface. For example, the disinfectant composition can be applied to the skin before a medical procedure. The term "medical procedure" includes, without limitation, surgery, injection, phlebotomy, and catheter insertion, and also includes other procedures that tear the skin. In another aspect of the invention, the disinfectant composition can be applied to the hands of workers for greeting to minimize the transmission of microbes from infected patients or between infected sites on a patient. An advantage of the invention is that many coating modalities of the antimicrobial polymer do not visibly stain the skin, and are colorless. Another aspect of the invention provides a disinfectant composition containing a dye, which allows the coating to be visualized. In some embodiments, the dye binds to the antimicrobial polymer, thereby preventing migration of the coating dye. An advantage of the invention is that, after the solvent has evaporated, the coating is generally odorless. Many embodiments of the disinfectant composition have a pH of between about 5 and about 9, preferably between 6.5 and 8.0. Various embodiments of the disinfectant composition can be applied to the skin in a form selected from the group consisting of liquid, gel, foam and aerosol. Optionally, the disinfectant composition additionally contains at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a drug, an antimicrobial, an antiseptic, a thickening agent, a humectant, an emollient, a vitamin, a temporary dye, a dye • permanent, and a UV light absorber. When such an additive is an antimicrobial, it can be an alcohol, which also serves as a solvent for the antimicrobial polymer with persistent activity. The antimicrobial or antiseptic additive may also be a quaternary ammonium salt, a biguanide, or a phenolic compound. In a particular embodiment, the antimicrobial or antiseptic is added to a quaternary ammonium salt, such as benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride, dimethyldidecylammonium chloride, or mixtures thereof. In another embodiment, the added antimicrobial or antiseptic is a biguanide, chlorhexidine or poly (hexamethylene biguanide). In another embodiment, the added antimicrobial or antiseptic is a phenolic compound, such as phenol or triclosan. In some embodiments, the emollient is propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, glycerol, or mixtures thereof. In another embodiment, the drug is an antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, an analgesic, or an anesthetic agent. In some embodiments, the antimicrobial polymer can be manufactured by mixing a species of monomer with at least one other species of monomer, and copolymerizing the monomers, wherein at least one of the monomers carries at least one portion of quaternary ammonium, which produces a polymer that is easily soluble in alcohol and insoluble in water. In some embodiments the antimicrobial polymer can be manufactured by polymerizing a monomer, wherein the monomer carries at least a portion of quaternary ammonium, which produces a polymer that is readily soluble in alcohol and insoluble in water. In another optional aspect there is provided a polymer containing both dye (for example fluorescein) and antimicrobial units (for example quaternary ammonium) both covalently bound to the polymer molecular structure or attached to the polymer molecular structure by covalent chemical bonds, and by They are therefore part of the molecular structure of the polymer, and are located either in the polymer backbone, or in polymer side groups. It is an aspect of this invention to provide a polyurethane polymer that is readily soluble in a solvent consisting essentially of alcohol, but insoluble in water, and containing at least a portion of quaternary ammonium attached to the molecular structure of the polymer by chemical bonds covalent, and that is capable of providing durable antimicrobial activity when applied to a surface. It is an aspect of this invention that there is no covalent chemical bond formed between the antimicrobial polymer and the substrate to which it is applied. In addition, the antimicrobial polymer can be removed from a substrate to which it has been applied when using alcohol or a solvent having significant alcohol content. It is an aspect of this invention that metals or metal salts are not used as an antimicrobial agent. It is an aspect of this invention that a curing cap is not required to impart insolubility to the antimicrobial polymer after it has been applied to a surface. DETAILED DESCRIPTION An exemplary embodiment of the current invention utilizes an antimicrobial polymer having polymeric molecules that are composed of a monomeric portion type; alternatively, the polymer molecules can be composed of more than one type of monomeric portion. In exemplary embodiments of the current invention, the quaternary ammonium moieties impart antimicrobial activity to the polymer molecules. Desirably such quaternary ammonium-containing monomeric portions constitute at least 2% by weight of the polymer molecules, more preferably at least 10% of the polymer molecules, and most preferably at least 25% of the polymer molecules. Preferably, the number of quaternary ammonium moieties in the antimicrobial polymer will be at least one mole (6.02 x 1023) per 650 grams of polymer. More preferably, the number of quaternary ammonium moieties in the antimicrobial polymer will be at least one mole (6.02 x 10) per 350 grams of polymer. The antimicrobial polymer is formulated to be insoluble in water and readily soluble in aqueous solutions of at least 75% by weight of alcohol. More preferably it is formulated to be insoluble in water and is readily soluble in such solutions of at least 50% by weight of alcohol, and much more preferably it is formulated to be insoluble in water and readily soluble in solutions of at least 25% by weight. weight of alcohol. It is an aspect of the current invention that the antimicrobial polymer can be applied to surfaces, including the skin, dissolved in a solvent containing alcohol. The relative solubility of polymers in different solvents is not trivial. This invention relates to polymers that are soluble in alcohol, still insoluble in water. This specific combination of properties manifests itself in only a relatively small number of many different types of known natural and synthetic polymers. The polymers can be divided generally into two groups: soluble in water, and insoluble in water. Some water-insoluble polymers can be soluble in various organic solvents. The solubility generally depends on the properties of the particular polymer-solvent combination, with soluble combinations that result when the chemical structures of the polymer and the solvent are similar. The polarity of the solvent is perhaps the most important consideration. The polarity of some common solvents in order to much more polar to less polar are: water, ethanol, ether, toluene and hexane. Many water-soluble polymers are also soluble in alcohol. Among the alcohols, the polarity decreases in the order of methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol, with the polarity of methanol being the closest to that of the water. Thus, many water-soluble polymers are more soluble in methanol, than in ethanol or isopropanol. Ethanol and isopropanol sol solvents preferred for the practice of this invention. Isopropanol is not generally a very good solvent for most polymers. Even polyethylene oxide, which is highly soluble in water, is insoluble in isopropanol, as are many other water-soluble polymers such as polyDADMAC, alginate, polyacrylate, and even polyvinyl alcohol. The vast majority of both natural and synthetic polymers are not soluble in isopropanol. The additional requirement that the polymer is also insoluble in water makes the selection of polymers useful for the practice of this invention even more critical. The solvent containing alcohol can serve a two-fold purpose, not only as a carrier, but also as an immediate disinfectant. After the solvent containing alcohol has evaporated, a coating of the antimicrobial polymer remains on the skin or other substrate. This coating is durable, and because it is insoluble in water, it is not easily removed by, for example, perspiration, incidental contact with aqueous fluids, or light washing with aqueous fluids. It is an aspect of the current invention that an alcohol is used as a solvent and as a carrier, including, but not limited to, ethanol, methanol, isopropanol, and mixtures thereof. It is an aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the invention that the alcohol solvent is denatured alcohol, specifically SDA 3-C Denatured Alcohol, which is a denatured alcohol, of non-drinkable, commercial grade defined by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Division of the Service and Internal Income as ethanol with a 5% isopropanol denaturant (ie, 95% ethanol / 5% isopropanol). The antimicrobial polymer can also be soluble in other organic solvents such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, tetrahydrofuran, ethyl acetate, ethers, esters, benzene, toluene, carbonates, hydrocarbons, or chlorinated hydrocarbons and solutions of the antimicrobial polymer in any of these solvents can be used to prepare the antimicrobial composition; however, these solvents can not necessarily provide the advantage of immediate disinfection as provided by alcohol. It is a feature of the invention that the antimicrobial properties are permanently retained in the polymer structure. This can be achieved, for example, by incorporating chemical functionalities with antimicrobial properties directly into the molecular structure of the polymer. This not only provides durability and persistence of the antimicrobial effect, but also prevents the soluble antimicrobial components, for example, those of low molecular weight, from leaching from the antimicrobial coating and entering the substrate, or migrating areas where it is undesirable to have antimicrobial activity. . For example, when applied to the skin, the composition will provide persistent antimicrobial activity; however, the antimicrobial activity will not migrate from the polymer and will penetrate the surface of the skin or enter the cells where it may have undesirable effects, after the evaporation of the alcohol-based carrier solvent. It is an advantage of the present invention that the composition would be useful to protect individuals at risk of contacting biological warfare agents (eg military personnel and postal workers), either by treating their skin or by treating the surfaces of the equipment and materials that these individuals make contact. It is an aspect of the current invention that a composition of the present invention can be used on the animal skin (e.g. sanitization of cow udders, surgical procedures, and veterinary procedures). An advantage of this invention is that it uses quaternary ammonium compounds as the active antimicrobial agent, and quaternary ammonium compounds do not promote the development of resistant organisms such as MRSA or VRE. Examples are provided below to demonstrate the effectiveness of the test materials of the current invention against such organisms. The disinfectant composition of the present invention may additionally contain other inert or active ingredients. For example, the thickening agents may be included in order to increase the viscosity or provide a gel form of the product. Additives, such as humectants, vitamins, UV light absorbers, drugs, antimicrobials, or other inert and active agents, may also be added. Such additives do not need to be insoluble in water, since they can serve their purpose by activating transiently or otherwise they can be trapped in the polymeric coating and thus stabilize against easy removal by aqueous fluids. In addition, permanent or temporary dyes may be added to the composition, or applied alternatively to the polymeric coating after it has been applied to the surface, in order to serve as a visual indicator of the presence of the polymeric coating.

Although the composition of the present invention provides a polymer film or coating that does not leach antimicrobial properties, it may be desirable in some circumstances to incorporate an additional antimicrobial or antiseptic agent into the composition in order to provide additional efficacy. This additional agent does not covalently bind to the polymer and thus can be leachable. This does not alter the non-leachable nature of the previously described antimicrobial polymer. When the additional antimicrobial agent has been completely leached from the composition, the antimicrobial polymer will still provide non-leachable antimicrobial activity. In addition, the antimicrobial polymer matrix can serve to decrease the rate of leaching of the additional agent, thereby prolonging the effectiveness of the added agent. Examples of useful antimicrobials or antiseptic additives include quaternary ammonium salts, biguanides, and phenolic compounds. In certain embodiments, the antimicrobial or antiseptic added is a quaternary ammonium salt, such as benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride, dimethyldidecylammonium chloride, or mixtures thereof. In another embodiment, the added antimicrobial or antiseptic is a biguanide, such as chlorhexidine or poly (hexamethylene biguanide). In another embodiment, the added antimicrobial or antiseptic is a phenolic compound, such as phenol or triclosan. It is an aspect of the current invention that the composition can be formulated as a liquid, gel, foam, or aerosol spray and can be applied to a surface, which includes the skin of a human or other animal, in order to achieve an effect prolonged antimicrobial The following examples demonstrate the synthesis and application of water-insoluble antimicrobial polymer molecules soluble in alcohol. It is an aspect of the invention that these polymeric molecules can be synthesized by vinyl polymerization with free radicals of, generally, a mixture of two different monomers, a first monomer (A) and a second monomer (B), at least one of which contains quaternary ammonium groups. The first monomer (A), and the homopolymers of monomer A, are generally soluble in water, while the second monomer (B) is generally insoluble in water. A mutually effective solvent (such as alcohol) for the monomers A & B can be used to prepare a homogeneous solution suitable for the copolymerization of the two monomers. The copolymer of A + B is soluble in alcohol. It should be understood that this is precisely a possible illustrative method for formulating the composition and one of skill in the art will realize that there are numerous other methods that can be used to prepare the water-insoluble, alcohol-soluble antimicrobial polymer molecules. Mixtures of three or more monomers can also be used to prepare suitable antimicrobial copolymers. It is an aspect of this invention that polymeric molecules can be synthesized by growth stage polymerization, such as the reaction of a difunctional alcohol with a diisocyanate to form a polyurethane polymer. It is an aspect of this invention that other types of growth stage polymers can also be used which include, but are not limited to, polyamides (naylons), polyesters, and polyureas. The incorporation of the antimicrobial portion in the polymer can be achieved by using an antimicrobial compound with reactive functionality. For example, Akzo Nobel offers a range of compounds sold under the brand name Ethoquad. An example is Ethoquad C / 12-75DK, which is a methyl quaternary ammonium / C12 compound with two reactive hydroxyethyl substituents that can be reacted with a diisocyanate such as tolylene-2, -diisocyanate (TDI) to form a polymer of antimicrobial polyurethane containing portions of quaternary ammonium in the polymer backbone structure. In an embodiment of this invention, a dye molecule can be incorporated into, or covalently bound to, the antimicrobial polymer sture in order to provide a visible non-leaching marker for the composition. For example, the fluorescein dye molecule has two hydroxyl groups that can be reacted with a diisocyanate to form part of a polyurethane sture. When a mixture of fluorescein and Ethoquad C / 12-75DK is reacted with TDI, the resulting polymer contains both dye (fluorescein) antimicrobial (quaternary ammonium) communities in the polymer backbone sture. The antimicrobial portions can also be incorporated into the polymer after polymer formation. This can be achieved, for example, by transesterification or other substitution reactions, such as the reaction of Ethoquad with a polyacrylate. The polymer molecules synthesized will have an average degree of polymerization of 5 to 25,000 (monomeric portions per molecule), but more preferably 50 to 10,000, and much more preferably 100 to 5000. Suitable vinyl monomers for general polymer use include, but are not limited to, monomers containing allele, vinyl-containing monomers, styrene derivatives, allyl amines, ammonium salts, acrylates, methacrylates, acrylamides, methacrylamides, dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (methyl quaternary chloride), dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (benzyl chloride) quaternary), dimethylaminoethyl acrylate (methyl quaternary chloride), dimethylaminoethyl acrylate (quaternary benzyl chloride), other compounds with the sture CH2 = CR- (0 = 0) -X- (CH2) n-N + R 'R " R '' '// Y ~ (' where R is hydrogen or methyl, n is equal to 2 or 3, X is either 0, S, or NH, R ', R' ', and R' '' are independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, ary it, arylamine, alkaryl, and aralkyl of Cl to C16, and Y "is an anionic counter ion to the positive charge of quaternary nitrogen; diallyldimethylammonium salts; vinyl pyridine and salts thereof; and vinylbenzyltrimethylammonium salts). Free radical initiators suitable for use in generating the polymer include, but are not limited to, azo compounds, such as AIBN and related compounds, and peroxides, such as benzoyl peroxide, dicumyl peroxide, t-butyl hydroperoxide, persulfate. of sodium, hydrogen peroxide, sodium peroxide, and other peroxides and hydroperoxides commonly used as initiators of free radical polymerization. The photoinitiated polymerization can also be used where a suitable photoinitiator (e.g. a benzophenone derivative) is used which initiates the polymerization upon exposure to light. The polymerization of radiation can also be used, where the polymerization is initiated by exposure to ionizing radiation (for example gamma rays). Several methods can be employed to measure the antimicrobial efficacy of the antimicrobial polymers and compositions described herein. The "Carrier Persistence Test", or CPT, is described below. The compositions and materials of this invention have been found to give excellent results when tested by the CPT. The reductions of bacterial populations generally exceed 6 logs (99.9999% reduction of viable organisms). The materials described by this invention are capable of producing a 3-log reduction of bacteria when tested using the CPT method. Preferably, the materials described by this invention are capable of producing a 4-log reduction of bacteria when tested using the CPT method. More preferably, the materials described by this invention are capable of producing a 5-log reduction of bacteria when tested using the CPT method. Still more preferably, the materials described by this invention are capable of producing a 6-log reduction of bacteria when tested using the CPT method. It should be understood that the CPT is a comparative test in which the antimicrobial materials are compared to the control materials not treated with the antimicrobial agent. The theoretically maximum log reduction obtainable in a particular CPT test is limited by the growth of the bacterial population over the untreated control. Thus, it is possible to obtain virtually 100% elimination of viable organisms even though the current log reduction is below a specified number. EXAMPLES The following examples are provided to illustrate the invention and to teach those skilled in the art how to make and how to use the subject matter. They are not to be read as limiting the scope of the invention. EXAMPLE A1: Co-polymerization of (2- (methacryloyloxy) ethyl) dimethyl ammonium chloride and butyl methacrylate. A solution was made by dissolving 2.5 grams of 75% aqueous solution of (2- (methacryloyloxy) ethyl) trimethylammonium chloride of quaternary vinyl monomer (Aldrich Chemical Co.), 7.5 grams of butyl methacrylate (Aldrich Chemical Co. ), and 0.1 gram or AIBN (2, 2 '-azobis (2-methylpropionitrile) (Aldrich Chemical Co.) in 10 grams of ethanol.The solution was sprayed for 60 seconds with argon gas to expel the dissolved oxygen and then sealed in A glass vial under an argon atmosphere The glass vial was placed in a 70 ° C oven for 24 hours.The solution containing copolymers was then diluted in ethanol (1:25).

EXAMPLE A2: Application of the composition to the skin. Approximately 1 mL of the solution generated in Example Al was placed on the skin on the back of the hand of a human volunteer, then spread and rubbed with a gloved finger until it dried. After drying, a discrete film remained, which was not sticky or catchy, and was virtually imperceptible to the volunteer. The Bromtimol blue indicator dye (BTB) is known to strongly bind quaternary ammonium compounds. To visualize the presence of polymeric coating, the hand area to which the solution containing polymers was applied was rinsed with a 0.5% aqueous solution of BTB indicator dye adjusted to a pH of 10. The hand was rinsed under water warm running drinking. For 30 seconds with light digital manipulation to remove excess BTB indicator dye solution. The area of the skin treated with the copolymer solution exhibited a blue / green color, while the surrounding skin did not, indicating the presence of the applied polymer. Only after vigorous rubbing with a detergent solution did the coating decrease to the extent that the BTB indicator dye test indicated no more the presence of the polymer coating. EXAMPLE A3: Co-polymerization of (vinylbenzyl) trimethylammonium chloride and butyl methacrylate (H-1.

One solution was made by dissolving 2.5 grams of (vinylbenzyl) trimethylammonium chloride from quaternary vinyl monomer (Aldrich Chemical Co.), 7.5 grams of butyl methacrylate (Aldrich Chemical Co.), and 0.1 grams of AIBN (2.2 '). -azobis (2-methylpropionitrile) (Aldrich Chemical Co.), in 20 grams of methanol.This solution was sprayed for 60 seconds with argon gas to expel the dissolved oxygen, and then sealed in a glass flask under an argon atmosphere The glass vial was placed in a T oven at 70 ° C for 24 hours.The copolymer-containing solution was then diluted in ethanol (1: 2) This composition was designated as "Hl" and is referred to in subsequent examples. EXAMPLE A4: Application of the composition to polypropylene The solution generated in Example A3 was used to coat the inner surface of several 15 mL polypropylene centrifuge tubes by filling them with the solution and leaving them full overnight. It was then emptied and the alcohol evaporated completely in a low temperature oven set at 50 ° C. To visualize the presence of polymer coating on the inside of the tubes, approximately 5 mL of 0.5% aqueous solution of BTB indicator dye was added to one of the tubes and then stirred to coat the entire interior of the tube. After rinsing the tube several times with distilled water, the inner surface of the tube remained deep blue, indicating that the inner surface of the tube was coated with the water insoluble polymer. EXAMPLE A5: Antimicrobial activity of the polymer composition. A 2 mL aliquot of a 10 ~ 4 dilution of a culture overnight of S. a ureus (~ 1 x 108 CFU / mL) was added to a polypropylene centrifuge tube treated as in Example A4, (sample) and to an untreated polypropylene centrifuge tube (control). During the overnight incubation at 3 ° C, the tubes were rolled slowly to ensure contact of the bacterial culture and the inner surface of the tubes. The next day, serial dilutions of cultures of bacteria harvested from each tube were marked on bacterial culture plates. The crop harvested from the untreated control tube produced 2.5 x 104 CFU, while the zero colonies were observed on the plates marked with the harvested cultures from the treated sample tubes. The difference in the number of colonies listed translates into at least a reduction of 4.4 log in the bacterial population. EXAMPLE A6: Synthesis of a quaternary ammonium polyurethane (H3-C) that is soluble in alcohol, but insoluble in water. Fifty grams of Ethoquad C / 12-75DK (Akzo Nobel) were placed in a round bottom flask on a rotary evaporator and evaporated to dryness. The residue (-37.5 grams) was redissolved in 70 mL of tetrahydrofuran (THF) with stirring at about 50 ° C. Forty grams of tolylene-2, -diisocyanate (TDI) was added and the solution was mixed for one hour while it was immersed in a water bath contained at ~ 50 ° C. The viscosity of the solution increased during this time, and the solution remained clear when cooled to room temperature. The solution was stored overnight at room temperature and some additional increase in viscosity was observed. Nine grams of dipropylene glycol were added, and the solution was mixed for four hours at 50 ° C. The mixture was then placed on a rotary evaporator to remove all the volatile solvent (mainly THF) by vacuum separation at ~ 50 ° C. The mixture was then dissolved in 100 mL of isopropanol, and then vacuum separation was repeated. The mixture was then dissolved in 100 mL of isopropanol again, and the separation in vacuo was repeated again. The mixture was then redissolved in 100 mL of isopropanol to give a yellowish, viscous, clear solution without a solid polymer content of -56% by weight. The polymer solution was subsequently diluted to various concentrations ranging from 1% to 10% solids, and these solutions were used to coat various objects such as glass slides and polypropylene test tubes. The coatings were clear to slightly opaque when dried, non-tacky, and adherent to the substrate. In addition, the coatings were not removed by rinsing in water or saline. The polymer of the product is believed to comprise a linear polyurethane with quaternary ammonium units in the main chain structure of the polymer. The product of this example was coded "H3-C", and is used as an antimicrobial coating in some of the following examples. EXAMPLE A7: Synthesis of a quaternary ammonium polyurethane (H3-F) containing covalently bound portions of fluorescein, which is soluble in alcohol, but insoluble in water. Fifty milligrams of fluorescein (neutral molecule) was dissolved in 3 mL of THF, and then mixed with eight grams of tolylene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI).

This solution was mixed for one hour at ~ 50 ° C, and then stored overnight at room temperature before being mixed with ten grams of Ethoquad C / 12-75DK (Akzo Nobel), which had previously been separated by vacuum to remove the isopropanol solvent and redissolved in 14 grams of tetrahydrofuran (THF) with stirring at about 50 ° C. This mixture was then mixed for several hours at ~ 50 ° C, and then subjected to vacuum separation. The mixture was redissolved in isopropanol and then removed by vacuum. The dissolution / separation was repeated one additional time and the product was dissolved in -50 mL of isopropanol. The solution was found to have a solids content of 17.4%. The product of this reaction was expected to be quaternary ammonium portions containing linear fluorescein-labeled polyurethane in the polymer backbone structure. Additionally, the polymer is expected to contain portions of fluorescein in the polymer backbone structure. The fluorescein portions provide a useful diagnostic tool for measuring the presence, dispersion, persistence, and migration of the polymer. The coatings were prepared on various substrates as described in the preceding Example, and the coatings had properties similar to those described in the above. Coated glass microscope slides were placed in 50 mL culture tubes containing 15 mL of deionized water or 15 mL of phosphate buffered saline and placed in a shaking incubator for several hours at 37 ° C. The solutions were then analyzed by visible spectroscopy (Spectronic 20) at 495 nm. No leaching of the fluorescein could be detected, indicating the complete incorporation of the dye into the polymer structure. EXAMPLE A8: Preparation of an antimicrobial coating composition. Suitable amounts of the quaternary polyurethane described in the above (H3-C) and glycerol were diluted in isopropanol to give a composition that contained 10% by weight of H3-C and 5% by weight of glycerol. The solution remained clear, and the polymer adhesion and film-forming properties were not adversely affected when the coatings were prepared on glass slides. EXAMPLE A9: Preparation of an antimicrobial coating composition containing an emollient for the skin (SS-1C). Appropriate amounts of the quaternary polyurethane described above (H3-C) and glycerol were diluted in isopropanol to give a final composition containing 10% by weight of H3-C, 5% by weight of propylene glycol, and 5% of dipropylene. glycol, with the rest being isopropanol (80% by weight). The solution remained clear, and the film and adhesion properties, as well as the antimicrobial efficacy of the polymer were not adversely affected when the coatings were prepared on glass slides or pig skin. Propylene glycol and dipropylene glycol are known to have emollient properties and are widely used in topical skin products such as lotions and cosmetics. EXAMPLE A10: Preparation of an antimicrobial coating composition containing a skin emollient Formulation of Example A9 (SS-1C) was diluted with isopropanol in proportions of one part of SS-1C to one part of isopropanol, and one part of SS -1C to three parts of isopropanol. EXAMPLE All: Preparation of an antimicrobial coating composition containing an emollient for the skin and a UV light absorber. The formulation of EXAMPLE A9 (SS-1C) is modified to include the sunscreen ingredient that blocks UV light or absorbs UV light in order to protect the skin from UV absorption and to prevent sunburn. The additive that absorbs UV light or that blocks the UV light is selected from the list comprising: para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), esters of PABA, cinnamates, benzophenes, silicates, octocrylene, dibenzoyl-methane, avobenzone, oxybenzone, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide. EXAMPLE A12: Preparation of an antimicrobial coating composition containing an emollient for the skin and Vitamin E. The formulation of Example A9 (SS-1C) is modified to include 1% vitamin E. Vitamin E is practically insoluble in water, but freely soluble in alcohol. EXAMPLE A13: Preparation of an antimicrobial coating composition containing an antimicrobial additive (SS1C-BAC3). An antimicrobial coating composition (SS1C-BAC3) is prepared by mixing 1.1 grams of benzalkonium chloride with 35.5 grams of the formulation of Example A9 (SS-1C). The benzalkonium chloride dissolved completely and the solution was clear and colorless. This composition was tested for antimicrobial efficacy using a modified version of the ASTM test method #E 1874-97 ("Standard Test Method for Evaluation of Washable Washes by Cup Scrub Technique"), as described below. Variations included using pig skin collected from a slaughterhouse rather than living human volunteers. In addition to the SS1C-BAC3 material, a placebo was formulated which consisted of 5% propylene glycol and 5% dipropylene glycol in isopropanol. The results are presented immediately. Summary and Results of the Modified Cup Separation Technique for Pig Skin 1. Preparation and Sterilization of Pig Skin Samples 1.1 Nine total samples were used in this method - 3 samples for the test product (SS1C-BAC3), 3 for the placebo, and 3 for the negative controls. Samples were cut from a sheet of pig skin by tracing the bottom of a Petri dish on the skin and cutting the circular piece, so that the samples were of an appropriate size to completely align the bottom of the Petri dish. Each of the 9 samples was cut from the skin sheet and placed in the bottom of its own Petri dish, the stratum corneum upwards. 1.2 Once in the Petri dishes, the sample skins were cleaned with a towel that was completely saturated with 70% alcohol, and then placed under ultraviolet light in the BSC (biological safety cabinet) to dry for approximately 10 minutes . The caps of the Petri dishes were also placed (facing up) along the samples under ultraviolet light. 2. Application of the Test Product and Placebo 2.1 After drying under ultraviolet light, the BSC was changed to fluorescence with the blower on, and a lxl inch square was removed on each of the skins with an ink marker. This is used as the application site. The ultraviolet light was switched on again with the caps still facing up, for a few minutes to ensure that no contamination occurred while marking the skins. 2.2 The BSC was changed back to fluorescence with the blower on, and the caps were placed back on the Petri dishes containing the samples. 2.3 One sample at a time, the lid was lifted from the Petri dish and 0.5 mL of each of the test product was applied to the first three samples (within the designated panel). The point of the sterile pipette was changed between each application. 2. 4 Stage 2.2 is repeated 3 times with placebo, and the remaining 3 sample skins are left as negative controls. 3. Performance of the Cup Separation Technique 3.1 Once the product and the placebo were applied each to the 9 samples, they were allowed to cover in the BSC, and a sample was taken in a time for the test. 3.2 The cup (approximately 1.5 cm in diameter and 1.5 in height) was centered on the sample application site with firm pressure to form a cup / skin seal. The cup was first sterilized in 95% alcohol and then dried with flame. While one person maintained constant pressure on the cup to protect the cup / skin seal, another person dispensed .25 mL of inoculum into the cup. Once dispensed, the inoculum was left for a 5-minute exposure. 3.3 After 5 minutes, a glass rod that had been sterilized in 95% alcohol and dried with flame was used to spread around skin inside the cup for 30 seconds. After 30 seconds the fluid was recovered with a sterile pipette in 0.5 mL of neutralizer. 3.4 Once the sample fluid was recovered, 0.25 mL of neutralizer was dispensed on the same test site for a second recovery, and another 30 seconds of separation was performed with a freshly fired glass rod. The fluid was recovered in the same solution as the first separation. 3.5 The 3.2-3.4 are repeated for the remaining 8 samples. 4. Data Collection The results were quantified by standard serial dilutions of the recovered separation fluids and then plated using the extension plate technique. The plates were incubated overnight, the log reductions were calculated for both the negative control and the placebo. 5. Results In the product tests against E. coli, two consecutive performances showed total extermination, which corresponded to a reduction of 4.5 log average in this case. The placebo showed no effect on the test organism. Thin Film Efficacy Test (TFET): Summary: The Thin Film Efficacy Test (TFET) was developed, based on [Bhende, S; Rothenburger, S; Spangler, D.J; In Vitro Assessment of Microbial Barrier Properties of Dermabond Topical Skin Adhesive. Surgical Infections 3 (3) pp 251-257 (2002)] to determine the bacteriostatic ability of an antibacterial solution.

The procedural steps of the TFET consist of applying an antibacterial solution to appropriate growth medium plates and leaving the solution completely dry. The plates are then inoculated with -1 x 10 ~ 6 CFU / ml of desired organisms and subsequently incubated overnight after the inoculum has been completely absorbed. The area of the application is then checked for bacteriostatic activity. Plates: The media plates used for this assay are selective media plates that are appropriate to the respective organisms. Sixty plates are used for each MSA organism: MSA (Mannitol Salt Agar) is the selective medium for S. aureus and MRSA. EMB: Methylene Blue Agar Eosin is the selective medium for E. coli. EA: Enterococcosel Agar is the selective medium for VRE. Coating: 100 μl of the antibacterial composition is applied to each plate and allowed to air dry for a minimum of 1 hour in the biological safety cabinet prior to inoculation.

Inoculation: The test organism is cultured in the appropriate growth medium and incubated overnight unless otherwise specified. The inoculum is made to achieve a titre of 105 CFU / ml. The coated plates are then inoculated with 1000 μl of bacterial solution and the inoculum is then applied homogeneously by moving the plate in a circular motion. Exposure: Samples are incubated at 37 ° C in a high humidity chamber and the exposure time is overnight unless otherwise established. Resulted: After incubation, each plate is inspected for bacteriostatic activity on the application area. The results are read as Pass / Fail. Without growth, the plate reads as Pass and if there is growth over the area, the plate reads as Fail. Results - TFET: TI EXAMPLE The Thin Film Polymer Efficacy Test (TFET) was used to determine the bacteriostatic ability of the antimicrobial solution. The procedural steps of the TFET consist of using plates of growth media as a carrier in which 100 μl of the chosen antimicrobial solution is applied to the center of the plate. The antimicrobial solution was allowed to air dry for a minimum of 1 hour prior to inoculation. The coated plates were inoculated with 1000 μl of inoculum in a titre of 106 CFU / ml. The inoculum was applied homogeneously by placing the plate in a vortex until the inoculum completely covered the entire surface area of the plate. The inoculated plates were then allowed to dry and subsequently incubated overnight at 37 ° C. After overnight incubation, the area of application of the antimicrobial solution was verified for the suppression of bacterial growth and the results were read as Pass / Fail. If growth suppression was observed, the plaque was considered to pass. Without any suppression of growth was observed, the plaque was considered to fail. The medium used for S. aureus, ATCC # 6538, Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA) and the antimicrobial solution used was H3-C (from Example A6). The results for S. to ureus were as follows: Solution Results of 24 Results of 48 Antimicrobial hours 5% hours of H3-C 60 Pass / 0 Failure 60 Pass / 0 Failure % of H3-C 60 Pass / 0 Fault 60 Pass / 0 Fault EXAMPLE T2: Example T2 uses S. a ureus resistant to Methicillin (MRSA, ATCC # BAA-44) as the test organism and again MSA is used as the growth medium. The results for the MRSA are as follows: Solution Results of 24 Results of 48 Antimicrobial hours 5% H3-C 60 Pass / 0 Failure 60 Pass / 0 Failure EXAMPLE T3: Example T3 used E. coli, (MRSA, ATCC # BAA-44), as the test organism and additionally Eosin Blue Methylene Agar was used as the growth medium. The results for E. coli were as follows: Solution Results of 24 Results of 48 Antimicrobial Hours 5% of H3-C 60 Pass / 0 Failure 60 Pass / 0 Failure 10% of H3-C 60 Pass / 0 Failure 60 Pass / 0 Failure EXAMPLE T4: Example T4 used Vancomycin-Resistant In terococcus (VRE, ATCC # 700221) as the test organism and additionally used Enterococcosel Agar as the growth medium. The results for the VRE were as follows: Solution Results of. 24 Antimicrobial Results Hours 5% H3-C 60 Pass / 0 Failure 60 Pass / 0 Failure EXAMPLE T5: Example T5 used formulation H-1 (see Example A3) as the antimicrobial solution. The results for S. to ureus were as follows: Solution Results of 24 Results of 48 Antimicrobial hours 10% H-l 60 Pass / 0 Fail 60 Pass / 0 Fail EXAMPLE T6: Example T6 also used the H-l formulation as the antimicrobial solution. The results for E. coli were as follows: Solution Results of 24 Results of 48 Antimicrobial Hour Hours 10% H3-C 60 Pass / 0 Failure 60 Pass / 0 Failure COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE T7: For comparison with the compositions of the present invention, Example T7 used the hand sanitizer Zero brand (Aquagen International, Inc. .) as the antimicrobial solution. The results for S. to ureus were as follows: Solution Results of 24 Results of 48 Antimicrobial hours hours Zero 8 Pass / 52 Fail 0 Pass / 60 Fail COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE T8: For comparison with the compositions of the present invention, Example T8 also used the hand sanitizer of the Zero brand as the antimicrobial solution. The results for E. coli were as follows: Solution Results of 24 Results of 48 Antimicrobial hours hours Zero 0 Pass / 60 Fail 0 Pass / 60 Fail COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE T9: For comparison with the compositions of the present invention, Example T9 used the Purell brand hand sanitizer (GOJO Industries, Inc.) as the antimicrobial solution. The results for S. to ureus were as follows: Solution Results of 24 Results of 48 Antimicrobial Hour Hours Burell 0 Pass / 60 Fail 0 Pass / 60 Fail COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE UNCLE: For comparison with the compositions of the present invention, Example TIO also used the Purell brand hand sanitizer (GOJO Industries, Inc.) as the antimicrobial solution. The results for E. coli were as follows: Solution Results of 24 Results of 48 Antimicrobial Hour Hours Burell 0 Pass / 60 Fail 0 Pass / 60 Fail Carrier Persistence Test (CPT): Summary: This procedure is a modification of the EPA Standard Operating Procedure: Test of Dew disinfectants with Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Mycobacterium bovis; which is an adaptation of the AOAC method to determine the efficacy of spray products as hard surface disinfectants against e test organisms, Mycobacterium bovis (BCG), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. The procedural steps of the CPT consist of applying an antimicrobial test solution to chosen carriers and allowing the carriers to dry before they are inoculated with the appropriate test organism. After inoculation, the carriers are incubated at the prescribed exposure time, subsequently placed in the neutralizing solution, then diluted and serially plated for efficacy quantification using standard methods. Carriers: The carriers are 25 cm2 and can be comprised of a variety of materials. The carriers are sterilized by methods appropriate to the composition of the carrier. The e types of carriers used in these tests are borosilicate glass, Vitro-Skin, and pig skin, however, carriers suitable for use in this method are not limited to those mentioned above. Borosilicate glass to: Borosilicate glass slides are washed with ethanol and allowed to dry with air. After drying, the borosilicate glass slides are placed in Petri dishes and placed in an autoclave for 15 minutes. Vi tro-Skin: The Vitro-Skin is prepared according to the manufacturer's specifications. If the Vitro-Skin becomes non-sterile, it needs to be sterilized with 70% alcohol, allowed to dry, and rehydrated according to the manufacturer's specifications. The Vitro-Skin was purchased directly from the manufacturer (IMS Inc., Orange, CT). VITRO-SKIN is an advanced test substrate that effectively mimics the surface properties of human skin. It contains both protein and lipid components used and is designed to have topography, pH, critical surface tension and ionic strength similar to human skin.

Pigskin: Pigskin is sterilized with 70% alcohol. This procedure includes completely moistening the carriers with 70% alcohol and allowing the carriers to air dry completely in a Biological Safety Cabinet (BSC). As an alternative, pig skin can be exposed to ultraviolet light for 10 minutes. Fresh pork skin is purchased from a local slaughterhouse. Application: The antimicrobial solution is applied to each carrier until it completely moistens the carriers. The volume of solution should not exceed 1000 μl and should not be less than 20 μl. The antimicrobial solution is then allowed to air dry for a minimum of 1 hour in a BSC before inoculation. Inoculation: Test organisms are cultured in appropriate growth media if they are incubated overnight at 37 ° C unless otherwise specified. The inoculum is modified to produce a titre of 108 CFU / ml. The carriers carrying the antimicrobial solution are then inoculated with 10 μl-20 μl inoculum. The inoculum will be distributed with sterile swabs saturated with inoculum. The exposure time begins directly after inoculation. Exposure: The exposure time is overnight unless otherwise specified and the samples are incubated at 37 ° C in a high humidity chamber. Neutralization.- Inoculated carriers are neutralized before recovering the organisms to stop the antimicrobial activity of the antimicrobial solution. All neutralizations are made with 20 ml of Letheen broth aliquots in 50 ml conical centrifuge tubes in a minimum of 10 minutes unless otherwise specified. Recovery: Recovery of the organism starts inside the neutralization tubes. The neutralized carriers are placed in a vortex at 1 minute and the organisms are subsequently recovered with. standard serial dilution and plate placement methods. The plates are incubated overnight at 37 ° C and the colony forming units are quantified the next day. Controls: Carrier substrates without any applied antimicrobial coating are used as negative controls to determine the microbial growth of the baseline. The control substrates were of the same composition as the test substrates within each sample set. Colony counts for control substrates are reported. Calculations: Calculations will be computed using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Electronic copies of the spreadsheet as well as hard copies will be retained. To calculate the CFU / mL per carrier: [(average CFU per 10 ~ w) -i- (average CFU per 10"x) + (average CFU per 10" y) + (average CFU per 10 ~ z)] / ( 10'w + 10"x + 10 ~ y + 10" z) where 10 ~ w, 10 ~ x, 10_y) and 10 ~ z are the dilutions placed on the plate. In the event that one or more dilutions produce plate counts greater than 300, or less than 30, those counts and their corresponding dilutions will not be used in the calculations. In the event that only one of the two plates has counts that produce 300 CFU or less, the plate count and its corresponding dilution will be included but no average will be determined. NOTE: Plate counts of 0 are going to be included in all calculations. To calculate the Log Reduction: LR = Log [(CFU / ml for the treated carrier) / (CFU / ml for the control carrier)] Carrier Persistence Test Results: EXAMPLE Cl: A 10% polymer solution Antimicrobial Hl (see Example A3) was applied to carriers of borosilicate glass slides. Using the tip of a pipette, 250 μl of Nimbuderm H-l was applied homogeneously on the 25 cm2 surface of the carrier of the glass slide. The carriers of glass slides were allowed to dry for at least one hour prior to inoculation. The carriers were inoculated with 10 μl of 108 CFU / ml inoculum to ensure an objective load of 10 6 CFU / ml. The organism used was S. to ureus ATCC # 6538, and the allowed exposure time was 30 minutes. After exposure, carriers of inoculated glass slides were placed in neutralizing solution of 20 ml of Letheen Broth for not less than 10 minutes to allow appropriate neutralization - the Letheen broth was cooled to 4 ° C prior to use. After neutralization, the carriers were placed in a vortex in the neutralization broth for one minute to facilitate recovery of the organism. The recovery of the viable organisms was done by standard serial dilution and placement methods, in plaque. The results were as follows: Population of control carrier S. a ureus: 3.20 x 106 CFU / ml Carrier: Borosilicate glass slides Exposure time: 30 min Samples Solution Reduction Log 1 10% Hl 6.51 * 2 10% Hl 6.51 * 3 10% Hl 6.51 * 44 1100 %% HH- -ll 6.51 * (* = total extermination) EXAMPLE C2: Example C2 is identical to Example Cl with the exception of exposure time. The exposure time used for Example C2 was 16 hours (overnight exposure). The results were as follows: Control carrier population S. a ureus: 2.30E07 CFU / ml: Carrier: Borosilicate glass slides Exposure time: 16 hours Samples Solution Reduction Log 1 10% Hl 7.36 * 2 10% Hl 7.36 * 3 10% Hl 7.36 * 4 10% Hl 7.36 * 5 10% Hl 7.36 * 6 10% Hl • 7.36 * (* = total extermination) EXAMPLE C3: Example C3 is identical to Example -C2 with the exception of the organism. The organism used was E. coli ATCC 15597. The results are shown as follows: Control carrier population E. coli: 1.06E05 CFU / ml Carrier: Borosilicate glass slides Exposure time: 16 hours Samples Solution Reduction Log 1 10% Hl 5.03 * 2 10% Hl 5.03 * 3 10% Hl 5.03 * 4 10% Hl 5.03 * 5 10 % Hl 5.03 * 6 10% Hl 5.03 * total extermination) EXAMPLE C4 Example C4 is identical to Example C3 with the exception of the carrier. The carrier used was Vitró-Skin. The results were as follows: Control carrier population E. coli: 2.87E06 CFU / ml Carrier: Vitro-Skin Exposure time: 16 hours Samples Solution Reduction Log 1 10% Hl 6.46 * 2 10% Hl 6.46 * 3 10% Hl 6.46 * 4 10% Hl 6.46 * 5 10% Hl 6.46 * 6 10% Hl 6.46 * (* = total extermination) EXAMPLE C5: A 10% solution of antimicrobial polymer H-3 (see Example A6) was applied to the carriers of borosilicate glass slides. Using the tip of a pipette, 250 μl of H-3 (10% polymer content) was applied homogeneously on the 25 cm2 surface of the glass slide carrier. The glass slide holders were allowed to dry for at least 1 hour prior to inoculation. The carriers were inoculated with 10 μl of 108 CFU / ml inoculum to ensure an objective load of 10 6 CFU / ml. The organism used was S. to ureus ATCC # 6538 the allowed exposure time was 30 minutes. After exposure, carriers of inoculated glass slides were placed in neutralizing solution of 20 ml of Letheen Broth for not less than 10 minutes to allow appropriate neutralization. The Letheen broth was cooled to 4 ° C prior to use. After neutralization, the carriers were placed in a vortex in the neutralization broth for 1 minute to facilitate recovery of the organism. The recovery of viable organisms was performed by standard serial dilution and plating methods. The results were as follows: Control carrier population E. coli: 1.06E05 CFU / ml carrier: Borosilicate glass slides Exposure time: 16 hours Samples • reduction solution Log 1 10% H-3 5.03 * 2 10% H-3 5.03 * 3 10% H-3 5.03 * 4 10% H-3 5.03 * 5 10% H-3 5.03 * (6 '10% H-3 5.03 * (* = total extermination) EXAMPLE C6: Example C6 is identical to Example C5 with the exception of the carrier. The carrier used was Vitro-Skin.

The results were as follows: Control carrier population E. coli: 2.87E06 CFU / ml carrier: Vitro-Skin Exposure time: 16 hours Samples Solution Reduction Log 1 10% H-3 6.46 * 2 10% H-3 6.46 * 3 10% H-3 6.46 * 4 10% H -3 6.46 * 5 10% H-3 6.46 * 6 10% H-3 6.46 * = total extermination) EXAMPLE C7 Example C7 is identical to Example C5 with the exception of the concentration of the disinfectant solution for the skin. The concentration of disinfectant for the skin H3-C is now reduced to 7%. The results were as follows: Control carrier population E. coli: 2.50E06 CFU / ml Carrier: borosilicate glass slides Exposure time: 16 hours Samples Solution Reduction Log 1 7% H3-C 6.40 * 2 7% H3-C. 6.40 * 3 7% H3-C 6.40 * 4 7% H3-C 6.40 * 5 7% H3-C 6.40 * 6 7% H3-C 6.40 * (* = total extermination) EXAMPLE C8 Example C8 is identical to Example C7 with the exception of the carrier. The carrier used feu Vitro-Skin. The results were as follows: Control carrier population E. coli: 2.08E06 CFU / ml Carrier: Vitro-Skin Exposure time: 16 hours Samples Solution Reduction Log 1 7% H3-C 6.32 * 2 7% H3-C 6.32 * 3 7% H3-C 6.32 * 4 7% H3 -C 6.32 * 5 7% H3-C 6.32 * 6 7% H3-C 6.32 * (* = total extermination) EXAMPLE C9: Example C9 is identical to Example C7 with the exception of the concentration of the disinfectant solution for the skin . The concentration of the skin disinfectant H3-C is now further reduced to 1%. The results were as follows: Control carrier population E. coli: 2.77E04 CFU / ml Carrier: borosilicate glass slides Exposure time: 16 hours Samples Solution Reduction Log 1 1% H3-C 4.44 * 2 1% H3-C 4.44 * 3 1% H3-C 4.44 * 4 1% H3-C 4.44 * 5 1% H3-C 4.44 * 6 1% H3-C 4.44 * O (* = total extermination) EXAMPLE CIO: The CIO Example is identical to Example C9 with the exception of the organism. The organism used was S. to ureus ATCC # 6538. The results were as follows: Control carrier population S. a ureus: 1.25E03 CFU / ml Carrier: borosilicate glass slides Exposure time: 16 hours Samples Solution Reduction Log 1 1% H3-C 3.10 * 2 1% H3-C 3.10 * 3 1% H3-C 3.10 * 4 1% H3-C 3.10 * 5 1% H3-C 3.10 * 6 1% H3-C 3.10 * EXAMPLE Cll: Example CIII is identical to Example CIO except for the organism. The organism used was. P. aeruginosa ATCC # 15442.

The results were as follows: Control carrier population P. aeruginosa: 3.93E06 CFU / ml Carrier: borosilicate glass slides Exposure time: 16 hours Samples Solution Reduction Log 1 1% H3-C 6.59 * 2 1% H3-C 6.59 * 3 1% H3-C 6.59 * 4 1% H3-C 6.59 * 5 1% H3-C 6.59 * 6 1% H3-C 6.59 * (* = total extermination) EXAMPLE C12: A 1% polymer solution Antimicrobial H3-C was applied to the carriers of borosilicate glass slides. The disinfectant solution was applied by passing over the surface of the 25 cm2 slide twice using a non-woven cleaning material (polyester / cotton) saturated with disinfectant solution. The carriers of glass slides now coated were allowed to dry for at least one hour prior to inoculation. The coated glass slides were then inoculated with an inoculum of 108 CFU / ml to ensure a target load of 10 CFU / ml. The organism used was E. coli ATCC 15597 and the allowed exposure time was 16 hours. After exposure, the carriers of inoculated glass slides were placed in a neutralizing solution of 20 ml of Letheen Broth for not less than 10 minutes to allow appropriate neutralization. The Letheen Broth was cooled to 4 ° C prior to use. After neutralization, the carriers were placed in a vortex in the neutralization broth for one minute to facilitate recovery of the organism. The recovery of viable organisms was carried out by standard serial dilution and plating methods. The results were as follows: Control carrier population E. coli: 1.57E06 CFU / ml Carrier: Borosilicate glass slides Exposure time: 16 hours Samples Solution Reduction Log 1 1% H3-C 6.19 * 2 1% H3-C 6.19 * 3 1% H3-C 6.19 * 4 1 % H3-C 6.19 * 5 1% H3-C 6.19 * 6 1% H3-C 6.19 * * - total extermination) EXAMPLE C13: Example C13 is identical to Example C12 with the exception of the organism. The organism used was P.

ATCC aeruginosa # 15442. The results were as follows: Control carrier population P. aeruginosa: 4.70E06 CFU / ml Carrier: Borosilicate glass slides Exposure time: 16 hours Samples Solution Reduction Log 1 1% H3-C 6.67 * 2 1% H3-C 6.67 * 3 1% H3-C 6.67 * 4 1% H3-C 6.67 * 5 1% H3-C 6.67 * 6 1% H3-C 6.67 * (* = total extermination) COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE C14: Instant disinfectant solution for hands the Purell brand (GOJO Industries, Inc.) was applied to the carriers of borosilicate glass slides. Using the tip of a pipette, 250 ul of Purell was applied homogeneously on the 25 cm2 surface of the glass slide holder. The carriers of borosilicate glass slides were allowed to dry for at least one hour prior to inoculation. The carriers were inoculated with 10 ul of 108 CFU / ml inoculum to ensure an objective load of 10 6 CFU / ml. The organism used was S. aureus ATCC # 6538, and the allowed exposure time was 30 minutes. After exposure, the carriers of inoculated glass slides were placed in neutralizing solution of 20 ml of Letheen Broth for not less than 10 minutes to allow the appropriate neutralization. The Letheen Broth was cooled to 4 ° C prior to use. After the neutralization, the carriers were placed in a vortex in the neutralization broth to facilitate the recovery of the organism. The recovery of viable organisms was performed by standard serial dilution and plating methods. Control carrier population S. a ureus: 1.02E05 CFU / ml Carrier: Borosilicate glass slides Exposure time: 30 minutes Samples Solution Reduction Log 1 Purell 1.07 2 Purell 1.22 3 Purell 1.17 4 Purell 1.07 5 Purell 1.19 6 Purell 1.14 COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE C15: Example C15 is identical to Example C14 with the exception of organism. The organism used was E. coli ATCC # 15597. The results were as follows: Control carrier population E. coli: 4.70E06 CFU / ml Carrier: Borosilicate glass slides Exposure time: 30 min Samples Solution Reduction Log 1 Purell 0.89 2 Purell 0.50 3 Purell -1.46 4 Purell -4.95 5 Purell 0.75 COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE C16: Example C16 is identical to Example C14 except for the organism . The organism used was P. aeruginosa ATCC # 15442. The results were as follows: Control carrier population P. aeruginosa: 4.70E06 CFU / ml Carrier: borosilicate glass slides Exposure time: 30 min Samples Solution Log 1 'Purell 0.37 2 Purell 0.33 3 Purell 0.37 EXAMPLE C17: The material of Example A9 (SS-1C) was applied to pig skin carriers. Using the tip of a pipette, 1000 μl of SS-1C was applied homogeneously on the. surface of 25 cm2 of the pig skin carrier. The pig skin carriers were allowed to dry for at least 1 hour prior to inoculation. The carriers were inoculated with 20 μl of 108 CFU / ml inoculum to ensure an objective load of 10 6 CFU / ml. The organism used was Serra tia. marcescens, ATCC # 13380. The allowed exposure time was 4 hours. After challenge, inoculated pig skin carriers were placed in neutralizing solution of 20 ml of Letheen Broth for not less than 10 minutes to allow appropriate neutralization - the Letheen broth was cooled to 4 ° C prior to use. After neutralization, the carriers were placed in a vortex in the neutralization broth for one minute to facilitate recovery of the organism. The recovery of viable organisms was done by standard serial dilution and plating methods. The results were as follows: Control carrier population S. marcescens: 1.18E07 CFU / ml Carrier: Pigskin Exposure time: 4 hours Samples Solution Reduction Log 1 10% SS-C 7.07 '2 10% SS-C 7.07 3 10% SS-C 7.07 EXAMPLE C18: Example C18 is identical to Example C17 with the exception of the organism. The organism used was E. coli ATCC 8739. The results were as follows: Control carrier population E. coli: 1.54E07 CFU / ml Carrier: Pigskin Exposure time: 4 hours Samples Samples Reduction Log 1 10% SS-C 7.19 2 10% SS-C 7.19 3 10% SS-C 7.19 EXAMPLE C19: Example C19 is identical to Example C17 with the exception of the organism. The organism used was MRSA (Staph, a ureus Resistant to metacillin) The results were as follows: MRSA control carrier population: 2.63E07 CFU / ml Carrier: Pigskin Exposure time: 4 hours Samples Solution Reduction Log 1 10% SS-C 7.42 2 10% SS-C 7.42 3 10% SS-C, 7.42 EXAMPLE C20: Example C20 is identical to Example C17 with the exception of the organism. The organism used was VRE, (Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus) The results were as follows: Control carrier population VRE: 3.23E06 CFU / ml Carrier: Pigskin Exposure time: 4 hours Samples Solution Reduction Log 1 10% SS- C 6.51 2 '10% SS-C 6.51 3 10% SS-C 6.51

Claims (3)

1. CLAIMS 1. A composition for imparting a durable antimicrobial activity to a surface comprising an antimicrobial polymer and a solvent consisting essentially of an alcohol, characterized in that the antimicrobial polymer is readily soluble in the solvent but insoluble in water, wherein the solvent it serves as a carrier for applying the antimicrobial polymer to a surface, and wherein the antimicrobial activity is not provided by an antimicrobial metal material. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the antimicrobial polymer comprises a first species of monomeric portion and a second species of monomeric portion, wherein at least one of the species carries at least one quaternary ammonium group. 3. The composition according to claim 2, characterized in that the first monomeric portion is a monomeric portion containing allyl or vinyl and the second monomeric portion is a monomeric portion containing allyl or vinyl. 4. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the antimicrobial polymer is a polymer comprising a monomeric portion, bound to the molecular structure of the polymer by the covalent chemical bond, which contains at least one quaternary ammonium group. 5. The composition according to claim 4, characterized in that the monomeric portion is a monomeric portion containing allyl or vinyl. 6. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the antimicrobial polymer is synthesized using the growth stage polymerization. The composition according to claim 6, characterized in that the antimicrobial polymer is a polyurethane polymer comprising a monomeric portion, bound to the molecular structure of the polymer by covalent chemical bonding, containing at least one quaternary ammonium group. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the antimicrobial polymer has an average degree of polymerization of 5 to 25,000. 9. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the solvent consists essentially of one or more alcohols selected from the group consisting of ethanol, methanol, and isopropanol. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the alcohol comprises 60-95% of the composition by weight. 11. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the antimicrobial polymer has an antimicrobial activity that occurs via a contact killing mechanism. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the antimicrobial polymer has an antimicrobial activity that does not require leaching, elution, or release from the surface to which the antimicrobial composition is applied. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises a dye. The composition according to claim 13, characterized in that the dye is bound to the antimicrobial polymer by covalent chemical bonding, thereby preventing migration of the antimicrobial polymer dye. 15. The composition according to claim 14, characterized in that the dye is fluorescein. 16. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the polymer is colorless. 17. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the polymer is odorless. 18. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the composition has a pH between 5 and 9. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the composition is in a form selected from the group consisting of liquid, gel, foam and spray. 20. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises a leachable antimicrobial agent. The composition according to claim 20, characterized in that the antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium salts, biguanides, and phenolic compounds. 22. The composition according to claim 21, characterized in that the quaternary ammonium salts are benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride, dimethyldidecyl ammonium chloride, or mixtures thereof. 23. The composition according to claim 21, characterized in that the biguanide is chlorhexidine or poly (hexamethylene biguanide). 24. The composition according to claim 21, characterized in that the phenolic compound is phenol or triclosan. 25. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises an emollient. 26. The composition according to claim 25, characterized in that the emollient is propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, glycerol, or mixtures thereof. 27. A composition for imparting a durable antimicrobial activity to the skin comprising an antimicrobial polymer and a solvent consisting essentially of an alcohol, characterized in that the antimicrobial polymer is readily soluble in the solvent, but insoluble in water, and wherein the solvent It serves as a carrier to apply the antimicrobial polymer to the skin. The composition according to claim 27, characterized in that it further comprises at least one reagent selected from the group consisting of a drug, an antimicrobial agent, an antiseptic agent, a thickening agent, a humectant, an emollient, a vitamin, a temporary dye, a permanent dye, and a UV light absorber. 29. A method for disinfecting a surface, characterized in that it comprises applying a composition to a surface and allowing the solvent to evaporate, leaving a coating of an antimicrobial polymer, wherein the composition comprises the antimicrobial polymer and a solvent consisting essentially of an alcohol, wherein the antimicrobial polymer is readily soluble in the solvent, but insoluble in water, wherein the solvent serves as a carrier for applying the antimicrobial polymer to a surface, and wherein the composition does not contain an antimicrobial metal material. 30. The method according to claim 22, characterized in that the surface is skin. 31. The method according to claim 23, characterized in that the application of the composition occurs prior to the medical procedure. 32. An antimicrobial composition, characterized in that it comprises a polyurethane polymer and a solvent that ^ consists essentially of alcohol, the polyurethane polymer that is readily soluble in the solvent but insoluble in water, wherein the polyurethane polymer comprises at least a portion containing a quaternary ammonium group, the portion that binds to the molecular structure of the polymer through covalent chemical bonding, whereby the composition provides durable antimicrobial activity when applied to a surface. The composition according to claim 32, characterized in that approximately one mole of the quaternary ammonium group-containing portion is bound to the molecular structure of the polyurethane polymer by 350 grams of the polyurethane polymer. 3 . The composition according to claim 32, characterized in that a dye is bound to the polyurethane polymer by covalent chemical bonding, thereby preventing migration of the dye from the polymer. 35. The composition according to claim 34, characterized in that the dye is fluorescein. 36. The composition according to claim 2, characterized in that the quaternary ammonium group is located in the polymer backbone. 37. The composition according to claim 4, characterized in that the quaternary ammonium group is located in the polymer backbone. 38. The composition according to claim 7, characterized in that the quaternary ammonium group is located in the polymer backbone. 39. The composition according to claim 32, characterized in that the quaternary ammonium group is located in the polymer backbone. 40. The composition according to claim 33, characterized in that the quaternary ammonium group is located in the polymer backbone. 41. The method according to the claim 29, characterized in that the antimicrobial polymer comprises a portion containing a quaternary ammonium group. 42. The method of compliance with the claim 41, characterized in that the quaternary ammonium group is located in the polymer backbone. 43. The method according to the claim 30, characterized in that the antimicrobial polymer comprises a portion containing a quaternary ammonium group. 44. The method according to claim 43, characterized in that the quaternary ammonium group is located in the polymer backbone. 45. The method according to claim 31, characterized in that the antimicrobial polymer comprises a portion containing a quaternary ammonium group. 46. The method according to claim 45, characterized in that the quaternary ammonium group is located in the polymer backbone.