THIS INVENTION PROVIDES A PRE-SURGICAL DISINFECTING COMPOSITION THAT INCLUDES AT LEAST ABOUT 50 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF A C1-6 ALCOHOL, BASED UPON THE TOTAL WEIGHT OF THE DISINFECTING COMPOSITION, AN ACID, AND A CATIONIC OLIGOMER OR POLYMER. A METHOD FOR PRE-SURGICAL SKIN DISINFECTION WITH RAPID ANTISEPTIC EFFICACY WITHOUT THE USE OF SECONDARY ANTIMICROBIAL COMPOUNDS IS ALSO DESCRIBED.