title: The role of silver in wound healing.
abstract: Bacteria present in wounds can have a negative impact on healing, so the increase in multi-resistant bacterial strains is a cause of concern for wound care. Silver has been demonstrated to have anti-microbial effects and has not as yet been shown to suffer from bacterial resistance, so an increasing number of manufacturers have launched wound care products utilising silver. A number of research studies have examined the effectiveness of silver-based products in reducing bacterial burden and treating wound infection. The general conclusion of these studies is that silver can be a useful tool in treating infected wounds, but the effectiveness of silver-based products is dependent upon the form of silver used and the delivery mechanism.
authors.affiliation: South and East Belfast Health and Social Services Trust, Holywood Arches Health Centre.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Graham
mesh_terms: D001458:Bandages; D006801:Humans; D012834:Silver / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D012834:Silver