| abstract |
This invention relates to a high alcohol content antimicrobial gel composition for frequent use in disinfecting the hands which possesses moisturizing and conditioning agents to counter the drying effects of the alcohol on the skin in manner similar to that provides by hand and body lotions. The gel compositions comprises from about 60-75% ethanol; about 0.4-2% of a thickening agent which is an addition polymer of acrylic acid crosslinked with an unsaturated polyfunctional agent; sufficient neutralizing agent such as diisopropanol amine to neutralize 15-100%, preferably 15-50%, of the carboxyl groups in the thickener; about 0.5-2.5% of a hydrocarbon emollient such as petrolatum; about 0.5-2% of a fatty ester emollient such as isopropyl palmitate; about 0.05-1% of a compatible surfactant such as ceteth-20; 0.5-3% of a fatty alcohol such as cetyl and myristyl alcohol; and about 1-6% of a humectant such as glycerine; and the balance comprising water, there being at least about 20% water present and the gel composition has a viscosity of from about 10,000 centipoise to 100,000 centipoise (10 to 100 pascal second) at 25 DEG C. |