Medical uses of silver
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The medical uses of silver include its use in wound dressings, creams, and as an antibiotic coating on medical devices.[1][2][3] Wound dressings containing silver sulfadiazine or silver nanomaterials may be used to treat external infections.[4][5][6] The limited evidence available shows that silver coatings on endotracheal breathing tubes may reduce the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia.[7] There is tentative evidence that using silver-alloy indwelling catheters for short-term catheterizing will reduce the risk of catheter-acquired urinary tract infections.[8][9][10]
| Medical uses of silver | |
|---|---|
.svg) Silver is added to some bandages for its antimicrobial effect. |
Silver generally has low toxicity, and minimal risk is expected when silver is used in approved medical applications.[11] Alternative medicine products such as colloidal silver are not safe or effective.[12][13][14][15][16]