title: Silver in medicine: a brief history BC 335 to present.
abstract: Silver is a naturally occurring element. Similar to other metals, the ionized form of silver (Ag(+1)) has known antimicrobial properties. A number of wound dressings incorporating silver ion or silver compounds have recently been developed and marketed. In addition, the antimicrobial effects of silver are currently being promoted in consumer products such as clothing and household appliances. The present use of silver in medical and consumer products has prompted concerns for potential toxicity and ecological effects, including induction of microbial resistance to antibiotics. These concerns ignore the fact that silver has been used for medicinal purposes for several thousand years. A historical review of the uses of silver in medicine is presented.
authors.affiliation: Disaster Response/Critical Care Consultants, LLC, Mount Pleasant, SC, USA. Electronic address: dbarillo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Barillo
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Scranton, Scranton, PA, USA.
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Marx
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000266:history* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002056:Burns / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000266:history*; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D012834:Silver / Q000266:history* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D012834:Silver
keywords: Acute wound; Antimicrobial; Burn; Chronic wound; Silver; Wound healing