Use of Silver in the Prevention and Treatment of Infections: A Review

The document from 2013 reviews the historical and contemporary medical uses of silver, particularly its bactericidal properties and its role in preventing and treating infections. Silver has been used in various medical contexts, such as topical treatments for burns and chronic wounds, and as a coating for medical devices. The review indicates that silver has had success in reducing bacterial burden and promoting healing in certain settings, but its effectiveness has been variable. For example, silver has shown promise in burn treatment and chronic wound care, and as a coating on medical devices to prevent infection. However, there have been unsuccessful outcomes, such as with the Silzone heart valve, and unproven benefits in other applications like orthopedic hardware coatings. The review concludes that silver can be a valuable tool against infection with relatively few side effects, but its use should be carefully considered against potential side effects, cost, and alternative treatment options. The review does not provide specific numbers of people involved in the studies, as it is a general literature review rather than a single study.