Patent ID: 8198326

Claim:
A method of killing or inactivating microorganisms on mammalian tissue, the method comprising contacting the affected area with an antimicrobial composition, the antimicrobial composition comprising: an antiseptic selected from the group consisting of diphenyl ethers, halogenated phenols, bisphenols, halogenated carbanilides, salicylanilides, and combinations thereof, wherein the composition includes a total amount of the antiseptic of at least 1 wt-% and no greater than 6 wt-%, based upon the total weight of the composition as used, a hydrophilic component selected from the group consisting of polyhydric alcohols, lower alkyl ethers, and short chain esters; wherein the hydrophilic component is present in a total amount of at least 8 wt-% and no greater than 50 wt-%, based on the weight of the ready to use composition; a surfactant selected from a sulfonate surfactant, a sulfate surfactant, a phosphate surfactant, and mixtures thereof; wherein the surfactant is present in a total amount of at least 0.5 wt-% and no greater than 3 wt-%, based on the weight of the ready to use composition; and a hydrophobic component wherein the hydrophobic component has a solubility in water of less than 1% by weight at 23° C.; and wherein the hydrophobic component is present in a total amount of at least 30 wt-%, based on the weight of the ready to use composition; wherein the composition has a viscosity of greater than 100 cps; wherein the mammalian tissue is at least a portion of the nasal cavity, the anterior nares, the esophageal cavity, and/or the nasopharynx of a subject; wherein the microorganisms comprise bacteria and the antimicrobial composition is used in an amount effective to kill one or more bacteria.