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.[2][3][4] Wound dressings containing silver sulfadiazine or silver nanomaterials may be used to treat external infections.[5][6][7] The limited evidence available shows that silver coatings on endotracheal breathing tubes may reduce the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia.[8] There is tentative evidence that using silver-alloy indwelling catheters for short-term catheterizing will reduce the risk of catheter-acquired urinary tract infections.[9][10][11]
Silver generally has low toxicity, and minimal risk is expected when silver is used in approved medical applications.[12] Alternative medicine products such as colloidal silver are controversial.[13][14][15][16][17]