title: Spectrum of antimicrobial activity associated with ionic colloidal silver.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Silver has historically and extensively been used as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent. However, the Food and Drug Administration currently does not recognize colloidal silver as a safe and effective antimicrobial agent. The goal of this study was to further evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of colloidal silver.
  
  
  METHODS
  Several strains of bacteria, fungi, and viruses were grown under multicycle growth conditions in the presence or absence of ionic colloidal silver in order to assess the antimicrobial activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For bacteria grown under aerobic or anaerobic conditions, significant growth inhibition was observed, although multiple treatments were typically required. For fungal cultures, the effects of ionic colloidal silver varied significantly between different genera. No viral growth inhibition was observed with any strains tested.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study data support ionic colloidal silver as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent against aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, while having a more limited and specific spectrum of activity against fungi.
authors.affiliation: Department of Naturopathic Research, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, Tempe, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Kira
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morrill
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leek
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Langland
authors.forename: La Deana
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Jeane
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ventura
authors.forename: Corey
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Skubisz
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scherer
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: Ephraim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Crocker
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oertle
authors.forename: Krystine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Just
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orian
authors.forename: Meaghan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Humphrey
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.forename: Bertram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Waters
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Langland
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D003102:Colloids; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects*; D007477:Ions; D012834:Silver / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018030:Silver Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014780:Viruses / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D003102:Colloids; D007477:Ions; D018030:Silver Compounds; D012834:Silver