Method of inhibiting the spread of disease and infection in structures

Claim 1

A method of inhibiting the spread, transmission and incidence, of disease, infection and allergies, characteristic of hypersensitivity pneumonitis in structures employing forced or induced air ventilation, heating, humidification and air conditioning systems, and with surfaces and furnishings conducive to and as harbors for microbial growths, in which microorganisms, their metabolic products and their somatic and reproductive cell parts, contribute to the spread, transmission and incidence, of the disease, infection and aggravate the condition of microbially mediated asthma and rhinitis allergies or initiate such allergic response, comprising reducing the level of exposure of occupants of the structure to high levels of microorganisms by treating interior surfaces and furnishings of the structure and immobilizing on the surfaces and bonding thereto a coating of an immobilized antimicrobial organosilicon quaternary ammonium compound in an amount effective to significantly destroy, reduce and inhibit the growth and multiplication of bacteria, mildew, mold, fungi, yeast, algae and other pathogenic microorganisms, which cause defacement, surface deterioriation, mildew and putrid odors; lowering the threshold level of airborne levels of microorganisms with the organosilicon quaternary ammonium compound in order to prevent recolonization and reinfestation; and utilizing the intrinsic immobilized antimicrobial activity of the treated surfaces to kill transient microbes; the immobilized antimicrobial organosilicon quaternary ammonium compound being an organosilane having the general formula selected from the group consisting of: and wherein, in each formula, Y is R or RO where R is an alkyl radical of 1 to 4 carbon atoms or hydrogen; a has a value of 0, 1 or 2; R′ is a methyl or ethyl radical; R˝ is an alkylene group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R‴, R′′′′ and R v are each independently selected from a group consisting of alkyl radicals of 1 to 18 carbon atoms, -CH₂C₆H₅, -CH₂CH₂OH, -CH₂OH and -(CH₂) x NHC(O)R vi , wherein x has a value of from 2 to 10 and R vi is a perfluoroalkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms; X is chloride, bromide, fluoride, iodide, acetate or tosylate.

Claim 2

A method of inhibiting the spread, transmission and incidence, of disease, infection and allergies, characteristic of hypersensitivity pneumonitis in structures employing forced or induced air ventilation, heating, humidification and air conditioning systems, and with surfaces and furnishings conducive to and as harbors for microbial growths, in which microorganisms, their metabolic products and their somatic and reproductive cell parts, contribute to the spread, transmission and incidence, of the disease, infection and aggravate the condition of microbially mediated asthma and rhinitis allergies or initiate such allergic response, comprising reducing the level of exposure of occupants of the structure to high levels of microorganisms by treating interior surfaces and furnishings of the structure and immobilizing on the surfaces and bonding thereto a coating of an immobilized antimicrobial organosilicon quaternary ammonium compound in an amount effective to significantly destroy, reduce and inhibit the growth and multiplication of bacteria, mildew, mold, fungi, yeast, algae and other pathogenic microorganisms, which cause defacement, surface deterioriation, mildew and putrid odors; lowering the threshold level of airborne levels of microorganisms with the organosilicon quaternary ammonium compound in order to prevent recolonization and reinfestation; and utilizing the intrinsic immobilized antimicrobial activity of the treated surfaces to kill transient microbes; the immobilized antimicrobial organosilicon quaternary ammonium compound being an organosilane having the general formula selected from the group consisting of: and wherein, in each formula, Y is R or RO where R is an alkyl radical of 1 to 4 carbon atoms or hydrogen; a has a value of 0, 1 or 2; R′ is a methyl or ethyl radical; R˝ is an alkylene group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R‴, R′′′′ and R v are each independently selected from a group consisting of alkyl radicals of 1 to 18 carbon atoms, -CH₂C₆H₅, -CH₂CH₂OH, -CH₂OH and -(CH₂) x NHC(O)R vi , wherein x has a value of from 2 to 10 and R vi is a perfluoroalkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms; X is chloride, bromide, fluoride, iodide, acetate or tosylate.

Claim 3

A method of treating hypersensitivity pneumonitis in structures with surfaces and furnishings conducive to and as harbors for microbial growths, comprising reducing the level of exposure of occupants of the structure to high levels of microorganisms by treating interior surfaces and furnishings of the structure and immobilizing on the surfaces and bonding thereto a coating of an anti­microbial organosilicon quaternary ammonium compound in an amount effective to significantly destroy, reduce and inhibit the growth and multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms which cause defacement, surface deterioriation, mildew and putrid odors; lowering the threshold level of airborne levels of microorganisms with the organosilicon quaternary ammonium compound in order to prevent recolonization and reinfestation; and utilizing the intrinsic immobilized antimicrobial activity of the treated surfaces to kill transient microbes; the immobilized antimicrobial organo­silicon quaternary ammonium compound being an organosilane having the general formula selected from the group consisting of: and wherein, in each formula, Y is R or RO where R is an alkyl radical of 1 to 4 carbon atoms or hydrogen; a has a value of 0, 1 or 2; R′ is a methyl or ethyl radical; R˝ is an alkylene group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R‴, R′′′′ and R v are each independently selected from a group consisting of alkyl radicals of 1 to 18 carbon atoms, -CH₂C₆H₅, -CH₂CH₂OH, -CH₂OH and -(CH₂) x NHC(O)R vi , wherein x has a value of from 2 to 10 and R vi is a perfluoroalkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms; X is chloride, bromide, fluoride, iodide, acetate or tosylate.

Claim 4

A method of treating hypersensitivity pneumonitis in structures with surfaces and furnishings conducive to and as harbors for microbial growths, comprising reducing the level of exposure of occupants of the structure to high levels of microorganisms by treating interior surfaces and furnishings of the structure and immobilizing on the surfaces and bonding thereto a coating of an anti­microbial organosilicon quaternary ammonium compound in an amount effective to significantly destroy, reduce and inhibit the growth and multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms which cause defacement, surface deterioriation, mildew and putrid odors; lowering the threshold level of airborne levels of microorganisms with the organosilicon quaternary ammonium compound in order to prevent recolonization and reinfestation; and utilizing the intrinsic immobilized antimicrobial activity of the treated surfaces to kill transient microbes; the immobilized antimicrobial organo­silicon quaternary ammonium compound being an organosilane having the general formula selected from the group consisting of: and wherein, in each formula, Y is R or RO where R is an alkyl radical of 1 to 4 carbon atoms or hydrogen; a has a value of 0, 1 or 2; R′ is a methyl or ethyl radical; R˝ is an alkylene group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R‴, R′′′′ and R v are each independently selected from a group consisting of alkyl radicals of 1 to 18 carbon atoms, -CH₂C₆H₅, -CH₂CH₂OH, -CH₂OH and -(CH₂) x NHC(O)R vi , wherein x has a value of from 2 to 10 and R vi is a perfluoroalkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms; X is chloride, bromide, fluoride, iodide, acetate or tosylate.