Since as early as ancient (1850 BCE) Egypt, silver has been used in wound care owing to its antimicrobial properties. Although its popularity dwindled in 1928 with the discovery of penicillin, medicinal silver has recaptured wound care professionals' attention with the rise of antimicrobial-resistant microbes. In modern dressings, the incorporation of silver nanoparticles decreases the risk of infection while allowing the dressing to continue the facilitation of a moist wound bed environment. In nanoparticle form, silver deconstructs the cell membrane of microbes, passes into their cell body, and causes internal damage.
There are various theories on how the silver nanoparticles precisely render the microbe inactive, but all agree that there is some level of intracellular damage. By decreasing the healing time of the wound, silver both improves the quality of life of the patient and is cost-effective for medical practice.
With the addition of elements such as surfactants, chelators, gelling fibers, sulfates, nylon, and calcium pectinate, silver's antimicrobial properties are enhanced with moisture-balancing properties. The use of silver in wound care has a long history of efficacy, with few side effects. Health care professionals should consider silver nanoparticle dressings to decrease healing times and improve the quality of life of their patients.
Registrants attending this session will learn:
- The history of silver usage
- The problem of antimicrobial resistance
- Indications and contraindications for the use of medicinal silver
- Variations of medical silver in dressings and their clinical outcomes
