Patent ID: 8535646

Claim:
A method for blocking, neutralizing, or killing microorganisms that cause infectious disease, in a mammal prior to or during the mammal encountering a contaminated environment or item, the method comprising: identifying a contaminated environment or item, wherein the contaminated environment or item is known or expected to be contaminated with harmful viral, fungal, or bacterial microorganisms; in response to identifying the contaminated environment or item, administering a therapeutically effective amount of a barrier-forming composition to a mucosa of the mammal prior to or during the mammal encountering the contaminated environment or item; the barrier-forming composition providing a barrier on the mucosa; in the barrier, trapping and killing microorganisms encountered in the contaminated environment after the administering step is performed; wherein the barrier-forming composition meets the following requirements: about 0.01%≦C≦about 0.4%; about 7%≦H≦about 65%; and 0.050%<A; wherein all percentages are by weight of the total composition; wherein C is a carbohydrate gum; H is a humectant; and A is an antimicrobial agent.