Patent ID: 8226888

Claim:
A method of reducing or preventing transfer of microbial contamination to or from a surface being cut; comprising: providing a surface to be cut; providing a cutting implement; coating at least one of the surface and the cutting implement with a adherent sacrificial antimicrobial barrier composition, comprising: from about 0.1 to about 25% (wt) of a gelling or thickening agent, from about 0.1 to about 10% (wt) of an emulsifier or stabilizer, from about 0.05 to about 10% (wt) of a surfactant, and an antimicrobial agent; and cutting through the surface with the cutting implement, wherein at least part of the adherent sacrificial antimicrobial barrier composition is transferred between the surface and the cutting instrument during cutting, and wherein transfer of microbial contamination to or from the surface is reduced or precluded.