MXPA99011372A - Antimicrobial wipes - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an antimicrobial wipe comprising a porous or absorbent sheet impregnated with an antimicrobial cleansing composition, wherein the antimicrobial cleansing composition comprises from about 0.001%to about 5.0%by weight of the antimicrobial cleansing composition, of an antimicrobial active;from about 0.05%to about 10%by weight of the antimicrobial cleansing composition, of an anionic surfactant;from about 0.1%to about 10%by weight of the antimicrobial cleansing composition, of a proton donating agent;and from about 3%to about 99,85%by weight of the antimicrobial cleansing composition, water;wherein the composition is adjusted to a pH of from about 3.0 to about 6.0. The invention also encompasses methods for cleansing skin, reducing the number of germs on the skin, and providing residual effectiveness versus Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria using these products.

Description

ANTIMICROBIAL TOWELS TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to antimicrobial towels consisting of absorbent sheets impregnated with antimicrobial cleaning compositions. These antimicrobial towels provide improved antimicrobial effectiveness compared to the prior art compositions. Specifically, the personal cleansing wipes compositions of the invention provide residual effectiveness not previously seen against transient Gram negative bacteria, improved residual effectiveness against Gram positive bacteria and improved immediate germ reduction with use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Human health is impacted by many microbial entities. Inoculation by viruses and bacteria causes a wide variety of diseases and conditions. Media attention to cases of food poisoning, strep infections, and the like is increasing public awareness of microbial issues. It is well known that washing hard surfaces, food (for example fruits or vegetables) and skin, especially hands, with soap Antimicrobial or non-medicated, can remove many viruses and bacteria from washed surfaces. The removal of viruses and bacteria is due to the surfactant activity of the soap and the mechanical action of the washing process. Therefore, it is known and recommended that people wash frequently to reduce the spread of viruses and bacteria. The bacteria found on the skin can be divided into two groups: resident and transient bacteria. The resident bacteria is Gram positive bacteria that is established as permanent micro-colonies on the surface and outer layers of the skin and plays an important role, helping to prevent the colonization of other bacteria and more harmful fungi. Transient bacteria are bacteria that are not part of the normal resident flora of the skin, but can be deposited when contaminated material transported by air lands on the skin or when contaminated material is brought into physical contact with it. The transient bacteria is typically divided into two subclasses: Gram positive and Gram negative. Gram positive bacteria includes pathogens such as Staphylocossu aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes and Clostridium botulinum. Gram negative bacteria includes pathogens such as Salmonella, Escherochia coli, Klebsiella, Hoemophilus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus and Shigella dysenteriae. Gram negative bacteria is generally distinguished from Gram positive by an additional protective cell membrane that usually results in that Gram negative bacteria is less susceptible to active topical antibacterial agents. Antimicrobial cleaning products have been marketed in a variety of forms for some time. The forms include deodorant soaps, hard surface cleaners and surgical disinfectants. These traditional rinsing antimicrobial products have been formulated to provide bacteria removal during washing. Antimicrobial soaps have also been shown to provide residual effectiveness against Gram positive bacteria, but limited residual effectiveness against Gram negative bacteria. By residual effectiveness it means that the growth of the bacteria on a surface is controlled for a period after the washing / rinsing process. Liquid antimicrobial cleaners are described in U.S. Patent No. 4,847,072, Bissett et al., July 11, 1989, 4,939,284, Degenhardt, July 3, 1990 and 4,820,698, Degenhardt, April 11, 1989, all patents they are incorporated herein by reference. Some of these traditional products, especially hard surface cleaners and surgical disinfectants, use high levels of alcohol and / or harsh surfactants that have been shown to dry and irritate skin tissues. Ideal personal cleansers should gently cleanse the skin, causing little or no irritation, and not leaving the skin extremely dry after frequent use and preferably should provide a moisturizing benefit to the skin.

Finally, these traditional antimicrobial compositions have been developed for use in a water washing process. This limits its use to locations with available water. Cleaning towels have been used, in the past, to wash hands and face during travel or in public or at any time when there is no water available. In fact, consumers have used absorbent towels impregnated with a topical composition for a variety of purposes. The U.S.A. No. 4,045,364, to Richter et al., Of August 30, 1977, teaches a disposable dry paper impregnated with a germicidal composition consisting of a surfactant, an active ingredient of elemental iodine or iodophor and a weak acid for pH adjustment. The compositions utilize iodine assets that are not stable in the presence of substantial amounts of water and insufficient levels of acid to provide residual effectiveness and improved removal against Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria. European patent application EP 0 619 074, Touchet et al., Published on October 12, 1994, teaches the use of sorbic and benzoic acids as antimicrobial agents in a towel, however it does not teach the anionic surfactant and the separated antimicrobial active. necessary to achieve the residual effectiveness of the present invention. The patent of E.U.A. No. 4,975,217, Brown-Skrobot et al., December 4, 1990, teaches the use of anionic surfactants and organic acids in a towel, however it does not teach the use of the active required to provide the benefits of improved residual effectiveness.

The antibacterial towels currently sold by Nice'n Clean®, Wash'n Dry® and No More Germies® are all antibacterial towels that use harsh cationic surfactants without additional active antibacterial. These products do not provide the residual effectiveness against Gram negative bacteria and Gram positive bacteria and the reduction of germs with use, and are rough to the skin. PCT application WO 92/18100, Keegan et al., Published October 29, 1992 and PCT application WO 95/32705, Fujiwara et al., December 7, 1995, teach liquid compositions for the skin that do not anoint, comprising mild surfactants, antibacterial agents and acidic compounds to regulate pH, which provides improved hostility against germs. However, the use of acidic compounds only for pH adjustment therein results in compositions that do not deliver the non-dissociated acid required to provide improved antimicrobial benefits. This situation is improved in Keegan by reference to mild surfactants, including nonionic surfactants. Neither Keegan nor Fujiwara teach the use of their compositions in a form that can be used without available water, for example a towel. U.S. Patent No. 3,141,821 to Compeau of July 21, 1964 and Irgasan DP 300 (Triclosan®) technical literature from Ciba-Giegy, Inc., "Basic Formulation for Hand Disinfection 89/42/01" expose antibacterial skin cleansing compositions that could to provide improved antibacterial effectiveness using certain anionic surfactants, antimicrobial actives and acids. However, the selection of highly active surfactants results in personal cleansing compositions that dry and roughen the skin. Again, no reference teaches the use of antimicrobial compositions in a form that can be used without available water, for example a towel. Given the severe health impacts of bacteria such as Salmonella, Escherichia coli and Shigella, it would be highly desirable to formulate antimicrobial cleansing products that provide an improved reduction of these germs on the skin and improved residual effectiveness against this transient bacteria., which are soft for the skin, which can be used without water. The existing products have been unable to provide all these benefits. Applicants have discovered that antimicrobial towels that provide such softness and antimicrobial benefits can be formulated using known porous absorbent sheets that are impregnated with the improved antimicrobial cleaning compositions. These improved antimicrobial cleaning compositions contain antibacterial assets in combination with specific organic and / or inorganic acids as proton donor agents, and specific anionic surfactants, all of which are deposited on the skin. The deposited proton donor agent and the anionic surfactant improve the active selected, to provide a new level of hostility to the bacteria that contacts the skin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an antimicrobial towel consisting of a porous or absorbent sheet impregnated with an antimicrobial cleaning composition wherein the antimicrobial cleaning composition comprises from 0.001 to 5.0%, by weight of the antimicrobial cleaning composition, of an antimicrobial active; from 0.05% to 10% by weight of the antimicrobial cleaning composition, of an anionic surfactant; from 0.1% to 10% by weight of the antimicrobial cleansing composition of a proton donor agent; and from 0% to 99.85% by weight of the antimicrobial cleaning composition, water; characterized in that the composition is adjusted to a pH of 3.0 to 6.0. The present invention also encompasses methods for cleaning, reducing the number of germs on the skin and decreasing the dispersion of transient Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria using the antimicrobial towels described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The antimicrobial towels of the present invention are very effective in providing improved germ reduction, and effectiveness Residual antimicrobial against transient bacteria, and are gentle to the skin and can be used without additional available water. The term "antimicrobial towel" is used herein to mean products in which a sheet of porous or absorbent material has been impregnated with an antimicrobial cleaning composition for the purpose of carving the towel product on a surface to clean the surface and control the growth and viability of transient bacteria. The term "antimicrobial cleansing composition" as used herein means a composition suitable for application to human skin for the purpose of removing dirt, oil and the like, which additionally controls the growth and viability of transient bacteria on the skin. The compositions of the present invention may also be useful for the treatment of acne. As used herein, "acne treatment" means avoiding, delaying and / or canceling the acne formation process in mammalian skin. The compositions of the invention may also potentially be useful to provide essentially immediate visual (ie acute) improvement in skin appearance after the application of the composition to the skin. More particularly, the compositions of the present invention are useful for regulating skin diseases, including the regulation of visible and / or tactile discontinuities of the skin, including but not limited to visible and / or tactile discontinuities in the texture of the skin. and / or color, more specifically discontinuities associated with aging of the skin. Such discontinuities can be induced or caused by internal and / or external factors. Extrinsic factors include ultraviolet radiation (e.g., from sun exposure), environmental pollution, wind, heat, low humidity, harsh surfactants, abrasives, and the like. Intrinsic factors include chronological aging and other biochemical changes from within the skin. The regulation of skin diseases includes regulating the skin disease prophylactically and / or therapeutically. As used herein, prophylactically regulating skin disease includes removing layers, minimizing and / or avoiding visible and / or tactile discontinuities in the skin. As used herein, regulating skin disease therapeutically includes improving, for example, decreasing, minimizing and / or erasing such discontinuities. The regulation of skin disease involves improving the appearance and / or sensation of the skin, for example, causing a smoother or more uniform appearance and / or feeling. As used in this, regular skin disease includes regular signs of aging. "Regulating Signs of Skin Aging" includes prophylactically and / or therapeutically regulating one or more of such signals (similarly, regulating a given signal of aging of the skin, for example, lines, wrinkles or pores, which includes prophylactically regulating and / or therapeutically regulate that signal). "Signs of skin aging" include, but are not limited to, all visibly and tactilely perceptible manifestations as well as any other macro or micro effects due to aging of the skin. Such signals can be induced or caused by intrinsic factors or extrinsic factors, for example, chronological aging and / or damage by the environment. These signals may result from procedures that include, but are not limited to, the development of texture discontinuities such as wrinkles, including fine surface wrinkles and coarse deep wrinkles, skin lines, crevices, rashes, large pores (e.g., associated with adnexal structures such as sweat gland ducts, sebaceous gland, or hair follicles), scaly, lamellae consistency, and / or other forms of disuniformity or roughness of skin, loss of skin elasticity (loss and / or inactivation of functional skin elastin) ), softening (including swelling in the eye and jaw area), loss of skin firmness, loss of skin tension, loss of recovery from skin deformation, discoloration (including circles under the eye), rashes, paleness , hyperpigmented skin regions such as age spots and freckles, keratoses, abnormal differentiation, hyperkeratinization, elastosis, decomposi Collagen, and other histological changes in the stratum corneum, dermis, epidermis, the cutaneous system of skin (for example, telangiectasia or spider-shaped arterioles), and underlying tissues, especially those close to the skin. All percentages and ratios used herein, unless otherwise indicated, are by weight and all measurements are made at 25 ° C, unless otherwise designated. The invention in present may consist, consist of or consist essentially of, the essential as well as optional ingredients and the components described therein. The antimicrobial towels of the present invention consist of the following essential components.

A.- THE POROUS OR ABSORBENT PLATE The antimicrobial cleaning composition is impregnated to the desired weight on one or both sides of an absorbent sheet (sometimes referred to herein as "substrate") which can be formed from any woven or non-woven fabric, fiber mixture or sufficient foam. wet strength and absorbency to contain an effective amount of the antimicrobial cleaning composition. It is preferable from the standpoint of antimicrobial effectiveness and softness to use substrates with a high absorption capacity (for example 5 to 20 grams / gram, preferably 9 to 20 grams / gram). The absorptive capacity of a substrate is the ability of the substrate, while held horizontally, to contain liquid. The absorptive capacity of a substrate is measured according to the Absorbent Capacity Method discussed hereinafter in the Analytical Methods section. In particular, woven or non-woven fabrics derived from networks of "oriented" or carded fibers composed of long textile fibers, the largest proportion of which is predominantly oriented in one direction are suitable for use in the present. These fabrics may be in the form of, for example, towels or wipes, including baby towels and the like. Methods for manufacturing woven and non-woven fabrics are not part of this invention and, being well known in the art, are not described in detail herein. In general, however, such fabrics are made by air or water laying processes in which the fibers or filaments are first cut to the desired lengths from long fibers, passed in a stream of water or air, and they are then deposited on a screen through which air or water laden with fibers is passed. The deposited fibers or filaments are then adhesively bonded together, and in some other way treated to form the woven, nonwoven or cellulose fabric. Non-woven thermo-lacquered fabrics (whether they contain resin or not) are made of polyesters, polyamides, or other thermoplastic fibers that can be spun as they are, ie the fibers are spun on a flat surface and joined (melted) together by heat or chemical reactions. The nonwoven fabric substrates used in the present invention are generally adhesively bonded fibers or filament products having a network structure or carded fiber (when the strength of the fiber is adequate to allow carding) or consist of several mats of fibers in wherein the fibers or filaments are distributed in an orderly manner or in a random arrangement (ie, an arrangement of fibers in a carded network in which the orientation of the fibers is frequently present, as well as a completely unrestricted distributional orientation), or substantially aligned. The fibers or filaments can be natural (for example wool, silk, jute, hemp, cotton, linen, henequen or ramin) or synthetic (for example rayon, cellulose ester, polyvinyl derivatives, polyoletes, polyamides, or polyesters) as been described here above. These non-woven materials are generally described in Riedel "Nonwoven Bonding Methods and Materials", Nonwoven World. (1987). The preferred absorbent properties herein are particularly easy to obtain with non-woven fabrics and are simply provided to increase the thickness of the fabric, ie by imposing a plurality of networks or mats to a suitable thickness to obtain the necessary absorbent properties, or allowing a sufficient thickness of the fibers to deposit on the screen. Any denier of the fiber (usually up to 15 denier) can be used, since it is the free space between each fiber which makes the thickness of the fabric directly related to the absorbent capacity of the fabric. Therefore, any thickness necessary to obtain the required absorbent capacity can be used.

B. The antimicrobial cleaning composition The absorbent sheets used in the present invention are impregnated with an antibacterial cleaning composition. The term "antibacterial cleansing composition" as used herein means a composition suitable for application to a surface for the purpose of removing dirt, oil and the like which additionally controls the growth and viability of transient bacteria. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are cleansing compositions suitable for use on human skin. 1. - Ingredients The antimicrobial cleaning compositions of the fabrics of the present invention consist of an antimicrobial active, an anionic surfactant, and a proton donor agent. Each of these ingredients is described in detail as follows.

Antimicrobial Active The antimicrobial cleaning composition of the antimicrobial towels of the present invention comprises from 0.001% to about 5%, preferably from 0.05% to about 2%, and more preferably from 0.1% to about 1% by weight, of the antimicrobial cleaning composition , of an antimicrobial asset. The exact amount of the antibacterial active to be used in the compositions it will depend on the particular asset used because the assets vary in power. Non-cationic actives are required in order to avoid interaction with the anionic surfactants of the invention. Following are examples of non-cationic antimicrobial agents that are useful in the present invention. Pyrithiones, especially the zinc complex (ZPT) Octopirox® Dimethyldimethylol Hidantoin (Glydant®) Methylchloroisothiazolinone / methylisothiazolinone (Katon CG®) Sodium sulphite Sodium bisulphite Imidazolidinyl urea (Germall 115®) Diazolidinyl urea (Germall II®) Benzyl alcohol 2- Bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (Bronopol®) Formalin (formaldehyde) Iodopropenyl butylcarbamate (Poliphase P100®) Chloroacetamide Methanamine Methyldibromonitrile-Glutaronitrile (1,2-Dibromo-2,4-dicyanobutane or Tektamer®) Glutaraldehyde 5 -bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane (Bronidox®) Phenethyl alcohol o-Phenylphenol / o-phenylphenol sodium Sodium hydroxymethylglycan (Suttocide A®) Bicyclic polymethoxyoxazolidine (Nuosept C®) Dimetoxan Timersal Dichlorobenzyl alcohol Captan Chlorphenenesin 10 Dichlorophene Chlorbutanol Glyceryl laurate Halogenated diphenyl ethers 2,4,4'-tr chloro-2, -hydroxy-diphenyl (Triclosan® or TCS) Ether 2,2'-dihydroxy-5,5'-d-bromo-d-phenyl phenol Phenol compounds Phenol 2-Methyl phenol 3-Methyl phenol 4 4- Methyl phenol 4-Ethyl phenol 2,4 -Dimethyl phenol 2,5-dimethyl phenol 3,4-Dimethyl phenol 2,6-Dimethyl phenol 4-n-Propyl phenol 4-n-Butyl phenol 4-n-Amyl phenol 4-tert-Amyl phenol 4-n-Hexii phenol 4-n-Heptyl phenol Alphenols aromatics mono- and poly-alkyl p-chlorophenol Methyl p-chlorophenol Ethyl p-chlorophenol n-propyl p-chlorophenol n-butyl p-chlorophenol 15 n-amyl p-chlorophene sec-amyl p-chlorophenol n-hexyl p-chlorophenol Cyclohexyl p-chlorophenol n-heptyl p- chlorophenol 20 n-octyl p-chlorophenol o-chlorophenol Methyl o-chlorophenol Ethyl o-chlorophenol n-propyl o-chlorophenol n-butyl o-chlorophenol n-amyl o-chlorophenol tert-amyl o-chlorophenol n-hexyl o-chlorophenol n-heptyl o-chlorophenol o-benzyl p-chlorophenol-benzyl-m-methyl p- chlorophenol o-benzyl-m, m-methyl p-chlorophenol o-benzyl-m, m-dimethyl p-chlorophenol or phenylethyl p-chlorophenol or phenylethyl-m-methyl p-chlorophenol 3-methyl p-chlorophenol 3,5-dimethyl p-chlorophenol 15 6-ethyl-3- methyl p-chlorophenol 6-n-propyl-3-methyl p-chlorophenol 6-iso-propyl-3-methyl p-chlorophenol 2-ethyl-3,5-dimethyl p-chlorophenol 6-sec-butyl-3-methyl p -chlorophenol 2-iso-propyl-3,5-dimethyl p-chlorophenol 6-dethylmethyl-3-methyl p-chlorophenol 6-isopropyl-2-ethyl-3-methyl p-chlorophenol 2-sec- amyl-3,5-dimethyl p-chlorophenol 2-Diethylmethane-3,5-dimethyl p-chlorophenol 6-sec-octyl-3-methyl-p-chlorophenol p-chloro-m-cresol p-bromophenol Methyl p-bromophenol Ethyl p-bromophenol n-propyl p-bromophenol n-butyl p-bromophenol n-amyl p-bromophenol 10 sec-amyl-p-bromophenol n-hexyl p-bromophenol Cyclohexyl p-bromophenol o-bromophenol ter-amyl o-bromophenol 15 n-hexyl o-bromophenol n-propyl m, m-dimethyl o-bromophenol 2-phenylene phenol 4-chloro-2-methoxy-phenol 4-chloro-3-methyl phenol 4-chloro-3,5-dimethylphenol 2,4-dicyoro-3,5 -dimethenol 3,4,5,6-terabromo-2-methylphenol 5-methyl-2-penti-phenium 4-isopropyl-3-methylphenol Para-chloro-meta-xyleneol (PCMX) Chlorotimol Phenoxyethanol Phenoxysopropanol 5-chloro-2-hydroxydiphenylmethane Resorcinol and its derivatives Resorcinol Methyl resorcinol Ethyl resorcinol n-propyl resorcinol n-butyl resorcinol n-amyl resorcinol n-hexyl resorcinol n-heptyl resorcinol n-octyl resorcinol n-nonyl resorcinol phenyl resorcinol Benzyl resorcinol Phenylethyl resorcinol Phenylpropyl resorcinol p-chlorobenzyl resorcinol 5 -chloro 2,4-dihydroxydiphenyl methane 4'-chloro 2,4-dihydroxydiphenyl methane 5-bromo 2,4-dihydroxydiphenyl methane 4'-bromo 2,4-dihydroxydiphenyl methane Bisphenol 2,2'-methylene bis (4-chlorophenol) 2,2'-methylene bis (3,4,6-trichlorophenol) 2,2'-methylene bis (4-chloro-6-bromophenol) Bis (2-hydroxy-3,5-dichlorophenyl) sulfide Bis (2-hydroxy-5-chlorobenzyl) sulphide ) Benzoic Esters (Parabens) Methylparaben Propylparaben Butylparaben Ethylparaben Isopropylparaben Isobutylparaben Benzylparaben Methylparaben sodium Propylparaben sodium Halogenated carbanilides S ^ '- trichlorocarbanilides (Triclocarban® or TCC) 3-trifluoromethyl-4,4'-dichlorocarbanylidene 3,3 ', 4-trichlorocarbanilide Another class of antibacterial agents, which are useful in the present invention are the so-called "natural" anticaberial actives, referred to as natural essential oils. These assets derive their names from their natural occurrence in plants. Typical natural essential oil antibacterial active ingredients include anise, lemon, orange, rosemary, wintergreen, thymus, lavender, clavero, hops, tea tree, citronella, wheat, barley, lemon, cedar leaf, cedar wood, cinnamon , grass pulguera, geranium, sandalwood, violet, blueberry, eucalyptus, verbena, pepper, benzoin gum, basil, fennel, spruce, balsam, menthol, ocmea origanum, Hydastis carradensis, Berberidaceae daceae, Ratanhiae and Curcuma longa. Also included in this list of natural essential oils are the key chemical components of plant oils that have been found to provide the antimicrobial benefit. These chemicals include, but are not limited to, anethole, catecholane, camphene, carbacola, eugenol, eucalyptol, ferulic acid, farnesol, noquithiol, tropolene, limonene, menthol, methyl salicylate, thymol, terpineol, verbenone, berberine, ratania extract, rust of cariophelene, citronelic acid, curcumin, nerolidol and genariol. Additional active agents are antibacterial metal salts. This class generally includes salts of metals in groups 3b-7b, 8 and 3a-5a. Specifically, they are the salts of aluminum, zirconium, zinc, silver, gold, copper, lanthanium, tin, mercury, bismuth, selenium, strontium, scandium, trio, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, prometheus, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium and mixtures thereof. Preferred antimicrobial agents for use herein are the broad spectrum active agents selected from the group consisting of Triclosan®, Triclocarban®, Octopirox®, PCMX, ZPT, natural essential oils and their key ingredients, and mixtures thereof. The most preferred antimicrobial active for use in the present invention is Triclosan®.

Anionic Surfactant The antimicrobial cleaning compositions of the present invention comprise from 0.05% to about 10, preferably from 0.1 to about 4% and more preferably from 0.2% to about 1%, by weight of the cleaning composition, of an anionic surfactant. Without being limited by theory, it is believed that the anionic surfactant breaks the lipid in the cell membrane of the bacteria. The particular acid used herein reduces the negative charges on the cell wall of the bacteria, traverses through the cell membrane, weakened by the surfactant, and acidifies the cytoplasm of the bacteria. The antimicrobial active can then pass more easily through the weakened cell wall, and more efficiently poison the bacteria. Non-limiting examples of anionic foaming surfactants useful in the compositions of the present invention are described in McCutcheon's, Detergents and Emulsifiers, North American edition (1990), published by The Manufacturing Confectioner Publishing Co .; McCutcheon's, Functional Materials, North American Edition (1992); and in U.S. Patent No. 3,929,678 to Laughiin et al., December 30, 1975, all of which are incorporated by reference. A wide variety of anionic surfactants are potentially useful herein. Non-limiting examples of anionic foaming surfactants include those selected from the group consisting of alkyl and ether alkyl sulphates, sulphated monoglycerides, sulphonated olefins, alkylarylsulfonates, primary and secondary alkanesulfonates, alkyl sulfosucinates, acryl taurates and acyl isethionates, alkyl glycerylether sulfonates , sulfonated methyl esters, sulfonated fatty acids, alkyl phosphates, acyl glutamates, acyl sarcosinates, alkyl sulfoacetates, acylated peptides, etheralkyl carboxylates, acyl lactylates, fluorine anionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof. Mixtures of anionic surfactants can be used effectively in the present invention. Anionic surfactants for use in cleaning compositions include alkyl sulfates and alkyl ether sulfates. These materials have the respective formulas R10-S0 M and R1 (CH2H40) X-O-SO3M, in which R1 is a saturated or unsaturated, branched or unbranched alkyl group of 8 to 24 carbon atoms, x is 1 to 10, and M is a water-soluble cation such as ammonium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, triethanolamine, diethanolamine and monoethanolamine. Alkyl sulfates are preferably manufactured by sulfation of monohydric alcohols (t (having from 8 to 24 carbon atoms) using sulfur trioxide or other known sulfation technique Alkyl ether sulfates are typically made as condensation products of ethylene oxide and monohydric alcohols (having from 8 to 24 carbon atoms) and then sulfated These alcohols can be derived from fats, for example, coconut or wood oils, or they can be synthetic.

A of alkyl sulphates which can be used in the compositions cleaners are sodium, ammonium, potassium, magnesium, TEA salts of lauryl sulfate or myristyl. Examples of alkyl ether sulfates that may be used include ammonium sulfate, sodium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, or TEA laureth-3 sulfate. Another suitable class of anionic surfactants are the sulfated monoglycerides of the form R 1 CO-O-CH 2 -C (OH) H-CH 2-0-SO 3 M, wherein R1 is a saturated or unsaturated, branched or unbranched alkyl group of 8 to 24 carbon atoms, and M is a water soluble cation such as ammonium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, triethanolamine, diethanolamine and monoethanolamine. These are typically manufactured by the reaction of glycerin with fatty acids (having from 8 to 24 carbon atoms) to form a monoglyceride and the subsequent sulfation of this monoglyceride with sulfur trioxide. An example of a sulfated monoglyceride is sodium cocomonoglyceride sulfate.

Other suitable anionic surfactants include olefin sulfonates of the form R1S03M, in which R1 is a mono-olefin having from 12 to 24 carbon atoms, and M is a water-soluble cation such as ammonium, sodium, potassium, magnesium. , triethanolamine, diethanolamine and monoethanolamine. These compounds can be produced by the sulfonation of alpha olefins by means of non-complex sulfur trioxide, followed by the neutralization of the acid reaction mixture under conditions such that any sultanas that have been formed in the reaction are hydrolysed to give the corresponding hydroxyalkanesulfonate. An example of a sulfonated olefin is alpha-olefin sulfonate of C? -Ci6- Other suitable anionic surfactants are the linear sulfoalkylbenzenesulfonates of the form R1-C6H4-SO3M, in which R1 is a saturated or unsaturated, branched or unbranched alkyl group of 8 to 24 carbon atoms, and M is a water-soluble cation such as ammonium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, triethanolamine, diethanolamine and monoethanolamine. These are formed by the sulfonation of linear alkylbenzene with sulfur trioxide. An example of this anionic surfactant is sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate. Still another suitable anionic surfactant for this cleaning composition includes the primary or secondary alcansulfonates of the form R1S03M, wherein R1 is a saturated or unsaturated, branched or unbranched alkyl chain of 8 to 24 carbon atoms, and M is a water-soluble cation such as ammonium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, triethanolamine, diethanolamine and monoethanolamine. These are commonly formed by the sulfonation of paraffins using sulfur dioxide in the presence of chlorine and ultraviolet light or another known sulfonating method. Sulfonation can occur in the secondary or primary positions of the alkyl chain. An example of an alkan sulfonate useful herein is the alkali metal or ammonium paraffinsulfonates of C13-C17. Other suitable surfactants are alkyl sulfosuccinates, which include disodium N-octadecylsulfosucinamate; diammonium lauryl sulfosuccinate; N- (1,2-dicarboxytyl) -N-octadecylsulfosucinate tetrasodium; diamyl ester of sodium sulfosucinic acid; dihexyl ester of sodium sulfosuccinic acid; and dioctyl esters of sodium sulfosucinic acid. Also useful are taurates that are based on taurine, which is also known as 2-aminoethane-sulfonic acid. Examples of taurates include N-alkyltaurines such as that prepared by reacting dodecylamine with sodium isethionate according to the teaching of US Pat. No. 2,658,072 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Other examples based on taurine include the acyl taurines formed by the reaction of N-methyl taurine with fatty acids (having from 8 to 24 carbon atoms). Another class of anionic surfactants suitable for use in the cleaning composition are the acyl isethionates. Acyl isethionates typically have the formula R1CO-O-CH2-CH2SO3M in which R1 is a saturated or unsaturated alkyl group, branched or non-branched branched having 10 to 30 carbon atoms, and M is a cation. These are typically formed by the reaction of fatty acids (having from 8 to 30 carbon atoms) with an alkali metal isethionate. Non-limiting examples of these acyl isethionates include cocoyl ammonium isethionate, sodium cocoyl sethionate, sodium laurel isethionate, and mixtures thereof. Still other suitable anionic surfactants are alkyl ether glyceryl sulfonates of the form R1-OCH2-C (OH) H-CH2-S03M in which R is a saturated or unsaturated, branched or unbranched alkyl group of 8 to 24 atoms of carbon, and M is a water-soluble cation such as ammonium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, triethanolamine, diethanolamine and monoethanolamine. These can be formed by the reaction of epichlorohydrin and sodium bisulfite with fatty alcohols (having from 8 to 24 carbon atoms) or other known methods. An example is sodium co-glyceryl sulphonate ether. Other suitable anionic surfactants include the sulfonated fatty acids of the form R1-CH (SO4) -COOH and the sulfonated methyl esters of the form R1-CH (SO) -CO-O-CH3, wherein R1 is a saturated or unsaturated, branched or unbranched alkyl group of 8 to 24 carbon atoms. These can be formed by the sulfonation of fatty acids or methylalkyl esters (having 8 to 24 carbon atoms) with sulfur trioxide or by another sulfonation technique known Examples include aliphatic acid coconut fatty acid and laurimethyl ester. Other anionic materials include phosphates such as monoalkyl, dialkyl, and trialkyl phosphate salts formed by the reaction of phosphorus pentoxide with branched or unbranched monohydric alcohols having from 8 to 24 carbon atoms. These could also be formed by other known phosphating methods. An example of this class of surfactants is sodium mono or dilauryl phosphate. Other anionic materials include acyl glutamates corresponding to the formula R1CO-N (COOH) -CH2CH2-CO2M in which R1 is a saturated or unsaturated, branched or unbranched alkyl or alkenyl group, of 8 to 24 carbon atoms, and M is a cation soluble in water.

Non-limiting examples of which include sodium lauroylglutamate and sodium cocoylglutamate. Other anionic materials include alkanoyl sarcosinates corresponding to the formula R1CON (CH3) -CH2CH2-C02M in which R1 is a saturated or unsaturated, branched or unbranched alkyl or alkenyl group, of 10 to 20 carbon atoms, and M is a cation soluble in water.

Non-limiting examples of which include sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, sodium cocoyl sarcosinate and lauroyl sarcosinate ammonium. Other anionic materials include the alkyl carboxylate ethers corresponding to the formula R1- (OCH2CH2) x-OCH2-CO2M in which R1 is a saturated or unsaturated alkyl or alkenyl group, branched or non-branched branched from 8 to 24 carbon atoms, x is 1 to 10, and M is a water-soluble cation. Non-limiting examples of which include laureth sodium carboxylate. Other anionic materials include acyl lactylates corresponding to the formula R1CO- [O-CH (CH3) -CO] x-C02M in which R1 is a saturated or unsaturated, branched or unbranched alkyl or alkenyl group of 8 to 24 carbon atoms, x is 3, and M is a water-soluble cation. Non-limiting examples of which include sodium cocoyl lactylate. Other anionic materials include the carboxylates, non-limiting examples of which include sodium laurylcarboxylate, sodium cocoylcarboxylate, and ammonium lauroylcaboxylate. Fluoro anionic surfactants can also be used. Any countercation, M, can be used on the anionic surfactant. Preferably the counter cation is selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, ammonium, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, and triethanolamine. More preferably the counter cation is ammonium. Non-limiting examples of preferred anionic surfactants useful herein include those selected from the group consisting of sodium and ammonium alkyl sulfates and ether sulfates having chain lengths of predominantly 12 and 14 carbon atoms, olefin sulphates having chain lengths of predominantly 14 and 16 carbon atoms, and paraffin sulfonates having chain lengths of 13 to 17 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof. Plus preferred for use herein are ammonium and sodium lauryl sulfates, ammonium and sodium myristyl sulfate, laureth-1, laureth-2, laureth-3, and Iaureth-4 ammonium sodium sulfates, C14-C16 olefin sulphonates , C13-C17 paraffin sulfonates, and mixtures thereof. More preferred is ammonium lauryl sulfate. Another class of preferred anionic surfactants consists of surfactants having a pKa greater than 4.0. These acidic surfactants include the group consisting of acyl sarcosinates, acyl glutamates, alkyl ether carboxylates and mixtures thereof. Acid surfactants have been discovered to be a more effective surfactant. Without being limited by theory, it is believed that these surfactants provide the benefit of acid and anionic surfactant in a component. Non-rinsing antimicrobial compositions comprising such acidic surfactants provide better antimicrobial efficacy than other surfactants. Its acid property also allows the use of a less separated proton donor agent, which further enhances the softness of the non-rinsing antimicrobial compositions herein. When used, acidic surfactants are used in cleaning compositions herein at levels of from about 0.1% to about 10%, preferably from about 0.2% to about 8%, more preferably from about 0.3% to about 5%, even more preferably about about 0.4% to about 2%, and more preferably from about 0.5% to about 1%. Nonionic surfactants from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and mixtures thereof, have been found to currently inhibit the benefits of residual effectiveness. It is believed that these surfactants interfere with the breakdown of the anionic lipid surfactant in the cell membrane. The ratio of the amount of these non-anionic surfactants to the amount of anionic surfactant should be less than 1: 1, preferably less and 1: 2, and more preferably less than 1: 4 in the present compositions. The antimicrobial cleaning compositions of the present invention preferably do not consist of hydrotropic sulfonates, particularly terpenoid salts, or mono- or binuclear aromatic compounds such as camphor sulfonate, toluene, xylene, eumeno and naphthene.

Proton Donating Agent The antimicrobial cleaning compositions of the present invention comprise from 0.1% to about 10%, preferably from about 0.5% to about 8%, more preferably from about 1% to about 5%, based on the weight of the cleaning composition personnel, of a proton donor agent. By "proton donor agent" it means any compound of acid or mixture thereof, which results in an acid not disassociated on the skin after use. The proton donor agents can be organic acids, including polymeric acids, mineral acids or mixtures thereof.

Organic Acids Proton donor agents that are organic acids that remain at least partially not dissociated in the pure composition. These organic proton donor agents can be added directly to the composition in the acid form or can be formed by adding the conjugate base of the desired acid and a sufficient amount of a separate acid sufficiently strong to form the acid not dissociated from the base.

PH regulating capacity Preferred organic proton donor agents are selected and formulated based on their pH and pKa buffering capacity. The buffering capacity is defined as the amount of protons (weight percentage) available in the formulation at the pH of the product for those acid groups with pKa's of less than 6.0. The regulatory capacity of pH can be calculated using pKa's, pH, and the concentrations of conjugated acids and bases, ignoring any pKa larger than 6.0, or can be determined experimentally through a simple Acid-based titration using sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide using a final pH point equal to 6.0. Preferred organic proton donor agents of the present antibacterial cleansing composition have a buffering capacity greater than 0.005%, more preferably greater than 0.01%, even more preferably greater than 0.02% and more preferably larger than 0.04%.

Mineral acids The proton donor agents that are mineral acids will not remain dissociated in the pure composition. Despite this, it has been discovered that mineral acids can be effective proton donors for use herein. Without being limited by theory, it is believed that the strong mineral acid acidifies the carboxylic and phosphatidyl groups in proteins of the skin cells, thereby providing acid not dissociated in situ. These proton donor agents can only be added directly to the composition in the acid form. pH It is critical to achieve the benefits of the invention that the acid not disassociated from the proton donor agent (deposited or formed in situ) remains on the skin in the protonated form. Therefore, the pH of the antimicrobial cleansing compositions of the present invention should be adjusted to a low enough level in order to form or deposit substantial non-destructive acid on the skin. The pH of the compositions should be adjusted and preferably regulated in the range from about 3.0 to about 6.0, preferably from about 3.5 to about 5.0 and more preferably from about 3.5 to about 4.5. A non-exclusive list of examples of organic acids that can be used as the proton donor agent are adipic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, maleic acid, malic acid, succinic acid, glycolic acid, glutaric acid, benzoic acid, malonic acid , salicylic acid, gluconic acid, polyacrylic acid, its salts, and mixtures thereof. Especially preferred organic proton donor agents are the group consisting of malic acid, malonic acid, citric acid, succinic acid, and lactic acid. A non-exclusive list of examples of mineral acid to be used herein are hydrochloric, phosphoric, sulfuric and mixtures thereof. Salicylic acid has been found to be a more preferred proton donor agent. Antimicrobial towels comprising salicylic acid provide better antimicrobial efficacy than other proton donor agents. When used, salicylic acid is used in the cleaning compositions herein at a level of from about 0.15 to about 2.0%.

Water The antimicrobial cleansing compositions of the present invention consist of from about 3% to about 99.85%, preferably from about 5% to about 98%, more preferably from about 10% to about 97.5%, and more preferably from about 38% to about 95.99 % of water.

Preferred optional ingredients Softness improvers In order to achieve the required softness of the present invention, optional ingredients may be added to improve softness to the skin. These ingredients include cationic and non-ionic polymers, co-surfactants, humectants and mixtures thereof. Polymers useful herein include polyethylene glycols, polypropylene glycols, hydrolyzed silk proteins, hydrolyzed milk proteins, hydrolyzed keratin proteins, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, polyquaternarians, silicone polymers and mixtures thereof. When used, the softness improving polymers comprise from about 0.1% to about 1%, preferably from about 0.2% to about 1.0%, and preferably from about 0.2% to about 0.6% by weight of the antimicrobial cleaning composition of the composition. Surfactant coagents useful herein include nonionic surfactants such as the Genapol® 24 series of ethoxylated alcohols, POE (20) sorbitan monooleate (Tween® 80), polyethylene glycol cocoate and Pluronic® propylene oxide / oxide block polymers. of ethylene, and amphoteric surfactants such as alkyl betaines, alkyl sultaines, alkyl amphoacetates, alkyl amphodiacetates, alkyl amphipropionates, and alkyl amphipipropionates. When used, the softness-improving surfactant coagents consist of 20% to 70%, preferably 20% to 50% by weight of the anionic surfactant, of the cleaning composition. Another group of softness improvers are lipid skin moisturizing agents that provide a moisturizing benefit to the user of the cleansing towel when the lipophilic skin moisturizing agent is deposited on the wearer's skin. When used in the present antimicrobial compositions, the lipophilic skin moisturizing agents are used, they are used at a level of 0.1% to 30%, preferably 0.2% to 10%, more preferably 0.5% to 5% by weight of the composition. In some cases, the lipophilic skin moisturizing agent may desirably be defined in terms of its solubility parameter, as defined by Vaughan in Cosmetics and Toiletries, Vol. 103, p. 47-69, October 1988. A lipophilic skin moisturizing agent having a Vaughan solubility parameter (VSP) of from 5 to 10, preferably from 5.5. to 9 is suitable for use in the present antimicrobial cleansing compositions. A wide variety of lipid-type materials and mixtures of materials are suitable for use in the antimicrobial cleansing compositions of the present invention. Preferably, the lipophilic skin conditioning agent is selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbon oils and waxes, silicones, fatty acid derivatives, cholesterol, cholesterol derivatives, di- and tri-glycerides, vegetable oils, vegetable oil derivatives, oils not digestible liquids, such as those described in U.S. Patents 3,600,186 to Mattson; of August 17, 1971 and 4,005,195 and 4,005,196 to Jandacek and others; both of January 25, 1977, all of which are incorporated herein by reference, or mixtures of digestible or non-digestible liquid oils with solid polyol polyesters such as those described in U.S. Patent 4,797,300 to Jandacek; of January 10, 1989; U.S. Patents 5,306,514 and 5,306,516 and 5,306,515 to Letton; all of April 26, 1994, all of which are incorporated herein by reference, and acetoglyceride esters, alkyl esters, alkenyl esters, lanolin and its derivatives, milk triglycerides, wax esters, beeswax derivatives , sterols, phospholipids and mixtures thereof. Fatty acids, fatty acid soaps and water soluble polyols are specifically excluded from our definition of a lipophilic skin moisturizing agent.

Oils and hydrocarbon waxes: Some examples are petrolatum, microcrystalline waxes of mineral oil, polyalkenes, (hydrogenated and non-hydrogenated polybutene and polydecene), paraffin, wax, ozokerite, polyethylene and perhydrosqualene. Hydrogenated and non-hydrogenated high molecular weight petrolatum and polybutene mixtures in which the ratio of petrolatum to polybutene is in the range of 90:10 to 40:60 are also suitable for use as the lipid skin wetting agent in the present compositions .

Silicone Oils: Some examples are dimethicone copolyol, dimethyl polysiloxane, diethyl polysiloxane, high molecular weight dimethicone, mixed C 1 -C 30 alkyl polysiloxane, phenyl dimethicone, dimethiconol and mixtures thereof. More preferred are the non-volatile silicones selected from dimethicone, dimethiconol, mixed C 1 -C 30 alkyl polysiloxane, and mixtures thereof. Non-limiting examples of silicones useful herein are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,011,681 to Ciotti et al., April 30, 1991, which is incorporated by reference.

Di- and Tri-glycerides: Some examples are castor oil, soybean oil, derived soybean oils such as maleated soybean oil, sunflower oil, cottonseed oil, corn oil, hazelnut oil, peanut oil, olive oil, cod liver oil, almond oil, avocado oil, palm oil and sesame oil, vegetable oils and vegetable oil derivatives; coconut oil and derived coconut oil, cottonseed oil and derivative cottonseed oil, jojoba oil, cocoa butter, and the like.

The acetoglyceride esters are used and one example is acetylated monoglycerides.

Lanolin and its derivatives are preferred and some examples are lanolin, lanolin oil, lanolin wax, lanolin alcohols, lanolin fatty acids, isopropyl lanolate, acetylated lanolin, acetylated lanolin alcohols, lanolin alcohol linoleate, alcohol riconeleate of lanolin. It is most preferred when at least 75% of the lipophilic skin conditioning agent consists of lipids selected from the group consisting of: petrolatum, mixtures of petrolatum and high molecular weight polybutene, mineral oil, liquid non-digestible oils (octaesters of cottonseed sucrose) liquid) or mixtures of liquid digestible or non-digestible oils with solid polyol polyesters (for example sucrose octaesters prepared from C22 fatty acids) in which the ratio of digestible or non-digestible liquid oil to solid polyol polyester is in the scale from 96: 4 to 80:20, hydrogenated or non-hydrogenated polybutene, microcrystalline wax, polylakene, paraffin, wax, ozokerite, polyethylene, perhydrosqualene; dimethicones, alkyl siloxane, polymethylsiloxane, methylphenylpolysiloxane and mixtures thereof. When used as a mixture of petrolatum and other lipids, the ratio of petrolatum to the other selected lipids (hydrogenated or non-hydrogenated polybutene or polydecene or mineral oil) is preferably from 10: 1 to 1: 2, more preferably from 5: 1 to eleven.

Stabilizers When a lipophilic skin moisturizing agent is used as the softness improver in the present antimicrobial compositions, a stabilizer may also be included at a level in the range of 0.1% to 10%, preferably from 0.1% to 8%, more preferably from 0.1% to 5% by weight of the antimicrobial cleaning composition. The stabilizer is used to form a crystalline stabilizing network in the liquid cleaning composition which prevents the droplets of lipophilic skin moisturizing agent from coalescing and separating the phase in the product. The network exhibits viscosity recovery that depends on the time after the shear (for example, thixotropy). The stabilizers used herein are not surfactants. The stabilizers provide shelf stability and improved tension. Some preferred hydroxyl-containing stabilizers include 12-hydroxystearic acid, 9,10-dihydroxystearic acid, tri-9,10-dihydroxyystearin and tri-12-hydroxystearin (hydrogenated castor oil is mainly tri-12-hydroxystearin). Tri-12-hydroxystearin is more preferred for use in the present compositions. When these crystalline hydroxyl-containing stabilizers are used in the non-rinsing compositions present, they are typically present at 0.1% to 10%, preferably 0.1% to 8%, more preferably 0.1% to 5%, of the antimicrobial cleaning compositions. The stabilizer is insoluble in water under ambient to almost ambient conditions. Alternatively, the stabilizer used in the cleaning compositions herein may consist of a polymeric greaser. When polymeric thickeners as the stabilizer in the present cleaning compositions, they are typically included in an amount in the range of 0.01% to 5%, preferably from 0.3% to 3% by weight of the composition. The polymeric oiler is preferably an anionic, nonionic, cationic or hydrophobically modifying polymer selected from the group consisting of cationic polysaccharides of the cationic guar gum class with molecular weights of 1, 000 to 3,000,000, anionic, cationic, and nonionic homopolymers. of acrylic and / or metracrylic acid, anionic, cationic and nonionic cellulose resins, cationic copolymers of dimethyl dialkylammonium chloride, and acrylic acid, cationic homopolymers of dimethylalkylammonium chloride, cationic polyalkylene, and ethoxypolyalkylene imines, polyethylene glycol of molecular weight from 100,000 to 4,000.00, and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the polymer is selected from the group consisting of sodium polyacrylate, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and hydroxyethyl ethyl cellulose, and Polyquaternium 10. Alternatively, the stabilizer used in the cleaning compositions herein may consist of fatty acid esters of C 10 -C 20 ethylene glycol. C10-C20 ethylene glycol fatty acid esters can also be desirably used in combination with the polymeric thickeners described hereinbefore. The ester is preferably a diester, more preferably a C 14 -C 18 diester, more preferably ethylene glycol distearate. When fatty acid esters of C10-C22 ethylene glycol are used as the stabilizer in the personal cleansing compositions herein, typically from 3% to 10%, preferably from 5% to 8%, more preferably from 6% to 8% of personal cleansing compositions. Another class of stabilizer that can be used in the antimicrobial cleansing compositions of the present invention consists of dispersed amorphous silica selected from the group consisting of fuming silica and precipitated silica and mixtures thereof. As used in this, the term "dispersed amorphous silica" refers to finely divided, finely divided, non-crystalline silica having an average agglomerated particle size of less than 100 microns. Fuming silica, which is also known as arc silica, is produced by the hydrolysis of the vapor phase of silicon tetrachloride in a hydrogen-oxygen flame. It is believed that the procedure of combustion creates silicon dioxide molecules that condense to form particles. The particles collide, adhere and concretize together. The result of this procedure is a three-dimensional branched chain aggregate. Once the aggregate cools below the melting point of the silica, which is about 1710 ° C, additional collisions result in the mechanical entanglement of the chains to form agglomerates. The precipitated silicas and the silica gels are generally made in aqueous solution. See, Cabot Tehcnical Data Pamphiet TD-100 entitled "CAB-O-SIL® Untreated Fumed Silica Properties and Functions", October 1993, and Cabot Technical Data Pamphiet TD-104 titled "CABO-SIL® Fumed Silica in Cosmetic and Personal Care Products ", March 1992, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. The fumed silica preferably has an average particle size of agglomerate in the range of 0.1 micron to 100 micron, preferably 1 micron to 50 micron, and more preferably 10 micron to 30 micron. The agglomerates are composed of aggregates having an average particle size in the range of 0.01 microns to 15 microns, preferably 0.05 microns to 10 microns, more preferably 0.1 microns to 5 microns and more preferably 0.2 microns to 0.3 microns. The silica preferably has a surface area greater than 50 m2 / gram, more preferably greater than 130 m2 / gram, more preferably greater than 180 m2 / gram.

When amorphous silicas are used as the stabilizer herein, they are typically included in the cleaning compositions at levels in the range of about 0.1% to about 10%, preferably from about 0.25% to about 8%, more preferably about 0.5% a approximately 5%. A fourth class of stabilizer that can be used in the antimicrobial cleansing compositions of the present invention consists of dispersed smectite clay selected from the group consisting of bentonite and hectorite and mixtures thereof. Bentonite is a colloidal aluminum clay sulfate. See Merck Index, Eleventh Edition, 1989, entry 1062, p. 164, which is incorporated by reference. Hectorite is a clay that contains sodium, magnesium, lithium, silica, oxygen, hydrogen and fluorine. See Merck Index, Eleventh Edition, 1989, entry 4538, p. 729, which is incorporated herein by reference. When smectite clay is used as the stabilizer in the cleaning compositions of the present invention, it is typically included in amounts ranging from about 0.1% to about 10%, preferably from about 0.25% to about 8%, and more preferably about 0.5% to approximately 5%. Other known stabilizers, such as fatty acids and fatty alcohols, can also be used in the present compositions. He Palmitic acid and lauric acid are especially preferred for use herein.

Other optional ingredients The compositions of the present invention may consist of a wide range of optional ingredients. The CTFA International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionarv, Sixth Edition, 1995, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, discloses a wide variety of non-limiting cosmetic and pharmaceutical ingredients commonly used in the skin care industry, which are suitable for use in the compositions of the present invention. Non-limiting examples of functional classes of ingredients are described on page 537 of this reference. Examples of those functional classes include: abrasives, anti-acne agents, cake antiforming agents, antioxidants, blenders, biological additives, volumetric agents, chelating agents, chemical additives, dyes, cosmetic astringents, cosmetic biocides, denaturants, astringents drugsemulsifiers, external analgesics, film formers, fragrance components, humectants, oating agents, plastisers, preservatives, propellants, reducing agents, skin whitening agents, skin conditioning agents, (emollients, humectants, various, and occlusives), skin protectants, solvents, foam boosters, hydrotropes, solubilizing agents, suspending agents (non-surfactants), sunscreen agents, ultraviolet light absorbers, and agents to increase viscosity (aqueous and non-aqueous). Examples of other functional classes of materials useful herein that are well known to one skilled in the art include solubilizing, sequestering, and keratolytic agents, and the like.

C- Preparation of the absorbent sheets impregnated with antimicrobial cleaning composition Any suitable method for the application of aqueous or aqueous / alcoholic impregnations, including coating by immersion, spray coating or metering, can be used to impregnate the fibrous networks herein with the antimicrobial cleansing compositions described herein. More specialized techniques can also be used, such as Meyer Rod, spatula or floating knife, which are typically used to impregnate liquids in absorbent sheets. The emulsion should preferably comprise 100% to 400%, preferably 200% to 400% by weight of the absorbent sheet. After coating, the sheets can be folded into piles and packaged in any of the vapor and moisture impermeable packages known in the art. The antimicrobial cleansing compositions of the present invention are made by means of techniques recognized in the medium for the various forms of compositions.

D "- Methods for using antimicrobial towels The antimicrobial towels of the present invention are useful for personal cleansing, reducing germs on the skin, and providing residual effectiveness against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, especially on the hands and face. Typically, the towel is used to apply cleaning compositions to the area to be cleaned. The towels herein can be used for personal cleaning when the use of cleaning products that require water can not be carried out or is inconvenient. The typical quantities of the present towels useful for cleaning, are in the scale of 1 to 4 towels per use, preferably 1 to 2 towels per use. Typical amounts of antimicrobial cleansing composition used range from 4 mg / cm2 to 6 mg / cm2, preferably 5 mg / cm2 of skin area to be cleaned.

ANALYTICAL METHODS Absorbent capacity Substrate samples are placed in a controlled location of temperature and relative humidity for at least 2 hours before testing (temperature = 22.7 ° C ± .5 ° C, relative humidity 50% ± 2%). A full-size substrate sheet is supported horizontally in a tared wire lined basket and weighed to provide the weight of the dried sheet. The filament lined basket has crossed filaments that serve to support the sheet horizontally. The crossed filaments allow the unrestricted movement of water to and from the substrate sheet. The substrate sheet, still supported by the basket, is lowered into a bath of distilled water having a temperature of 22.7 ° C ± .5 ° C for 1 minute. The basket is then raised from the bath and the substrate sheet is allowed to drain for 1 minute. The basket and the sheet are then reweighed to obtain the weight of the water absorbed by the substrate sheet. The Absorbent Capacity, in grams / gram, is calculated by dividing the weight of the water absorbed by the sheet by the weight of the dry sheet, the Absorbent Capacity is reported as an average of at least 8 measurements.

EXAMPLES The following examples further describe and demonstrate embodiments within the scope of the present invention. In the following examples, all ingredients are listed at an active level. The examples are given solely for the purpose of illustration and should not be considered as limitations of the present invention, since many variations thereof are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The ingredients are identified by the chemical name or CTFA. 15 antimicrobial cleaning compositions are prepared according to the tables below.

ANTIMICROBIAL CLEANING COMPOSITIONS PROCEDURE TO MANUFACTURE EXAMPLES OF ANTIMICROBIAL CLEANING COMPOSITION When mineral oil is used, mineral oil, propylene glycol, active Steareth 2 and 20, Oleth 2 and 20, and 50% by weight of the oil, glycol, active, steareth and oleth materials, water are premixed to a premix container. Heat to 73.8 ° C + 10 ° C. Add 50% additional, by weight, of the oil, glycol, active, steareth and oleth materials, of water to the premix tank. Add all but 5% by weight of the remaining water to the second mixing tank. If required, add the premix to the mixing tank. Add surfactants to the mixing tank. Heat materials at 68.3 ° C ± ° C and mix until dissolved. Cool to less than 37.7 ° C, add acid and antibacterial active, if they are not in the premix, and perfumes. Mix until the materials dissolve. Adjust the pH to the target with the required pH regulator (NaOH or pH regulating salt). Add the remaining water to complete the product.

PROCEDURE TO MANUFACTURE TOWEL EXAMPLES ANTIMICROBIAL Compositions 1-15 are impregnated onto absorbent sheets as follows: Composition 1-15 is impregnated onto a spun absorbent sheet laid to air or water consisting of 85% cellulose and 15% polyester at 260% by weight of the sheet being poured the composition on the sheet by a cup. Composition 1-15 is impregnated on a spun absorbent sheet laid to air or water consisting of 100% cellulose at 260% by weight of the sheet by pouring the composition onto the sheet by a cup. Compositions 1-15 are impregnated on separate nonwoven absorbent sheets laid to air or water consisting of 50% cellulose and 50% polyester at 260% by weight of the sheet by pouring the composition onto the sheet by a cup.

Claims (12)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - An antimicrobial towel characterized in that it comprises a porous or absorbent sheet impregnated with an antimicrobial cleaning composition, wherein the antimicrobial cleaning composition comprises: from 0.001% to 5.0% by weight of the antimicrobial cleaning composition, of an antimicrobial active; b from 0.05% to 10% by weight of the antimicrobial cleaning composition, of an anionic surfactant; c from 0.1% to 10% by weight of the antimicrobial cleansing composition, of a proton donor agent; and d from 3% to 99.85% by weight of the antimicrobial cleaning composition, water; wherein the composition is adjusted to a pH of 3.0 to 6.0.

2. An antimicrobial towel according to claim 1, further characterized in that the antimicrobial active is selected from the group consisting of Triclosan®, Triclocarban®, Octopirox®, PCMX, ZPT, natural essential oils or their key ingredients, and mixtures thereof. the same.

3. An antimicrobial towel according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the proton donor agent is an organic acid having a pH regulation capacity greater than 0.005.

4. - An antimicrobial towel according to claim 3, further characterized in that the proton donor agent is selected from the group comprising adipic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, maleic acid, malic acid, succinic acid, glycolic acid, glutaric acid, acid benzoic acid, malonic acid, salicylic acid, gluconic acid, polyacrylic acid, its salts and mixtures thereof.

5. An antimicrobial towel according to claim 3, further characterized in that the anionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of sodium alkyl sulfate and ammonium and ether sulfates having chain lengths of predominantly 12 and 14 carbon atoms, olefin sulphates having chain lengths predominantly of 14 and 16 carbon atoms, and paraffin sulfonates having an average chain length of 13 to 17 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof.

6. An antimicrobial towel according to claim 5, further characterized in that the ratio of the amount of non-anionic surfactants to the amount of anionic surfactant comprising the bacterial cleaning composition is less than 1: 1.

7. An antimicrobial towel according to any of the preceding claims further comprising a softness improving agent.

8. - An antimicrobial towel according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the softness improving agent is selected from the group consisting of 0.1% to 1.0% by weight of the cleaning composition, of a softness enhancing polymer, of 20% at 70% by weight of the anionic surfactant, of a mildness enhancing surfactant coagent, is from 0.1% to 30% of a lipophilic skin wetting agent, and mixtures thereof.

9. An antimicrobial towel according to any of the preceding claims further comprising 0.1% to 10% by weight of the cleaning composition, of an acidic surfactant.

10. An antimicrobial towel according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that from 0.15% to 2% by weight of the antimicrobial cleaning composition, the proton donor agent is salicylic acid.

11. The use of a safe and effective amount of the composition according to any of the preceding claims for the preparation of a medicament for providing residual effectiveness against Gram negative transient bacteria, improved residual effectiveness against Gram positive bacteria and improved immediate reduction. of germs on human skin.

12. The use of a safe and effective amount of the composition according to any of the preceding claims for the preparation of a medicine for the treatment of acne on human skin.