초록 ▼

An absorbent article for inhibiting the production of exoproteins from Gram positive bacteria, such as potentially harmful proteins produced by Staphylococcus species, is described. The absorbent article is particularly useful for inhibiting the production of TSST-1, alpha-toxin and/or enterotoxins

An absorbent article for inhibiting the production of exoproteins from Gram positive bacteria, such as potentially harmful proteins produced by Staphylococcus species, is described. The absorbent article is particularly useful for inhibiting the production of TSST-1, alpha-toxin and/or enterotoxins A, B and C from S. aureus bacterium. An alkyl polyglycoside is incorporated into the absorbent article. For example, alkyl polyglycoside may be coated on the fibers of a liquid-permeable cover of a catamenial tampon.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A catamenial tampon comprising an absorbent material and an outer layer, the outer layer comprising from about 6 wt. % to about 10 wt. % of an alkyl polyglycoside, the alkyl polyglycoside being capable of inhibiting the production of exoprotein from Gram positive bacteria when said tampon is expo

1. A catamenial tampon comprising an absorbent material and an outer layer, the outer layer comprising from about 6 wt. % to about 10 wt. % of an alkyl polyglycoside, the alkyl polyglycoside being capable of inhibiting the production of exoprotein from Gram positive bacteria when said tampon is exposed to the bacteria. 2. A catamenial tampon comprising an absorbent tampon material and an outer tampon layer, the outer tampon layer comprising about 20 wt. % of an alkyl polyglycoside, the alkyl polyglycoside being capable of inhibiting the production of exoprotein from Gram positive bacteria when said tampon is exposed to the bacteria. 3. The tampon of claim 1 wherein the alkyl polyglycoside is capable of inhibiting the production of TSST-1 from Staphylococcus aureus. 4. The tampon of claim 1 wherein the alkyl polyglycoside is capable of inhibiting the production of alpha-toxin from Staphylococcus aureus. 5. The tampon of claim 1 wherein the outer layer is liquid permeable. 6. The tampon of claim 1 wherein the outer layer is an outer portion of the absorbent layer. 7. The tampon of claim 1 wherein the alkyl polyglycoside is distributed throughout the absorbent material. 8. The tampon of claim 1 wherein the alkyl polyglycoside has an alkyl group having from 8 to 18 carbon atoms. 9. The tampon of claim 8 wherein the alkyl group is a linear alkyl group. 10. The tampon of claim 8 wherein the alkyl polyglycoside has an alkyl group with 8 to 14 carbon atoms. 11. The tampon of claim 1 wherein the alkyl polyglycoside is an alkyl polyglucoside. 12. The tampon of claim 1 wherein the alkyl polyglycoside has an HLB of 10 to 15. 13. The tampon of claim 1 wherein the alkyl polyglycoside is represented by: H--(Z)n--O--R wherein "Z" is a saccharide residue having 5 or 6 carbon atoms, "n" is a number having a value in the range from 1 to 6, and R represents a linear alkyl group having 8 to 18 carbon atoms. 14. The tampon of claim 13 wherein R represents a linear alkyl group having 8 to 14 carbon atoms. 15. The tampon of claim 1 wherein the alkyl polyglycoside has an alkyl group with an average of 8 to 12 carbon atoms. 16. A catamenial tampon comprising absorbent material and a liquid-permeable cover wherein the liquid permeable cover comprises at least 6 wt. % alkyl polyglycoside based on a dry weight of the cover, the catamenial tampon being sized and configured for insertion into a vagina such that the outer layer is in contiguous relation with the inner wall of the vagina. 17. The tampon of claim 16 wherein the alkyl polyglycoside has an HLB of 12 to 15. 18. The tampon of claim 16 wherein the alkyl polyglycoside has a linear alkyl group having from 8 to 10 carbon atoms. 19. A catamenial tampon comprising absorbent material and a liquid-permeable cover wherein the liquid permeable cover comprises at least 6 wt. % alkyl polyglycoside based on a dry weight of the cover, and the alkyl polyglycoside has an HLB of 12 to 15 and an alkyl group with an average of 8 to 12 carbon atoms. 20. The tampon of claim 19 wherein the alkyl polyglycoside has a linear alkyl group having from 8 to 10 carbon atoms. 21. The tampon of claim 19 wherein the liquid-permeable cover is a porous nonwoven sheet. 22. The tampon of claim 21 wherein the porous nonwoven sheet is formed from fibers of hydrophobic polymer. 23. The tampon of claim 22 wherein the alkyl polyglycoside is coated on the fibers. 24. The tampon of claim 22 wherein the porous nonwoven sheet is a spunbond web formed from polypropylene or polyethylene fibers or a mixture thereof. 25. The catamenial tampon of claim 1 wherein the alkyl polyglycoside has an HLB of at least about 12. 26. The catamenial tampon of claim 1 wherein the alkyl polyglycoside has an HLB of from about 12 to about 14.