Medical uses of silver

Medical uses of silver
Silver is added to some bandages for its antimicrobial effect, but evidence of its usefulness is mixed.[1]
[edit on Wikidata]

The medical uses of silver include its use in wound dressings, creams, and as an antibiotic coating on medical devices.

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]}

Mechanism of action

Silver and most silver compounds have an oligodynamic effect and are toxic for bacteria, algae, and fungi in vitro. The antibacterial action of silver is dependent on the silver ion.^[12] The effectiveness of silver compounds as an antiseptic is based on the ability of the biologically active silver ion (Ag⁺
) to irreversibly damage key enzyme systems in the cell membranes of pathogens.^[12] The antibacterial action of silver has long been known to be enhanced by the presence of an electric field. Applying an electric current across silver electrodes enhances antibiotic action at the anode, likely due to the release of silver into the bacterial culture.^[18] The antibacterial action of electrodes coated with silver nanostructures is greatly improved in the presence of an electric field.^[19]

Silver, used as a topical antiseptic, is incorporated by bacteria it kills. Thus dead bacteria may be the source of silver that may kill additional bacteria.^[20]

Medical uses

Antibacterial cream

Silver sulfadiazine (SSD) is a

However systemic reviews in 2014, 2017 and 2018 concluded that more modern treatments, both with and without silver, show better results for wound healing and infection-prevention than silver sulfadiazine,[25]^[26][27] and therefore SSD is no longer generally recommended.^[28][29]

It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.^[30] The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a number of topical preparations of silver sulfadiazine for treatment of second-degree and third-degree burns.^[31]

Dressings

Despite its widespread use, there is only mixed evidence that silver in dressings has any benefit.^[1] A 2018 Cochrane review found that silver-containing dressings may increase the probability of healing for venous leg ulcers.^[32]

A number of wound dressings containing silver as an anti-bacterial have been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).^{[33][34][35][36]} However, silver-containing dressings may cause staining, and in some cases tingling sensations as well.^[37]

Endotracheal tubes

A 2015 systematic review concluded that the limited evidence available indicates that using silver-coated

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2007 cleared an endotracheal tube with a fine coat of silver to reduce the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia.^[42]

Catheters

A 2014 systemic review concluded that using silver alloy-coated catheters showed no significant difference in incidences of symptomatic Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI) versus using standard catheters, although silver-alloy catheters seemed to cause less discomfort to patients.^[43] These catheters are associated with greater cost than other catheters.^[43] A 2014 Multicenter Cohort Study found that using a silver-alloy hydrogel urinary catheter did reduce symptomatic Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI) occurrences as defined by both NHSN and clinical criteria.^[9] A 2011 critical analysis of eight studies found a consistent pattern which supported using silver-alloy urinary catheters over uncoated catheters to reduce infections in adult patients, and concluded that using silver-alloy catheters would significantly improve patient care.^[10] A 2007 systemic review concluded that using silver-alloy indwelling catheters for short-term catheterizing will reduce the risk of catheter-acquired urinary tract infection, but called for further studies to evaluate the economic benefits of using the expensive silver alloy-catheters.^[11] Two systemic reviews in 2004 found that using silver-alloy catheters reduced asymptomatic and symptomatic bacteriuria more than standard catheters, for patients who were catheterised for a short time.^[44] A 2000 randomized crossover study found that using the more expensive silver-coated catheter may result in cost savings by preventing nosocomial UTI infections,^[45] and another 2000 study found that using silver alloy catheters for short-term urinary catheterization reduces the incidence of symptomatic UTI and bacteremia compared with standard catheters, and may thus yield cost savings.^[46]

A 2017 study found that a combination of

Research in 2018 into the treatment of central nervous system infections caused by free-living amoebae such as Naegleria fowleri and Acanthamoeba castellanii, tested the effectiveness of existing drugs as well as the effectiveness of the same drugs when they were conjugated with silver nanoparticles. In vitro tests demonstrated more potent amoebicidal effects for the drugs when conjugated with silver nanoparticles as compared to the same drugs when used alone. They also found that conjugating the drugs with silver nanoparticles enhanced their anti-acanthamoebic activity.^[48]

X-ray film

Silver-halide imaging plates used with X-ray imaging were the standard before digital techniques arrived; these function essentially the same as other silver-halide photographic films, although for x-ray use the developing process is very simple and takes only a few minutes. Silver x-ray film remains popular for its accuracy, and cost effectiveness, particularly in developing countries, where digital X-ray technology is usually not available.^[49]

Other uses

Silver compounds have been used in external preparations as antiseptics, including both silver nitrate and silver proteinate, which can be used in dilute solution as eyedrops to prevent conjunctivitis in newborn babies. Silver nitrate is also sometimes used in dermatology in solid stick form as a caustic ("lunar caustic") to treat certain skin conditions, such as corns and warts.^[50]

Silver nitrate is also used in certain laboratory procedures to stain cells. As it turns them permanently a dark-purple/black color, in doing so increasing individual cells' visibility under a microscope and allowing for differentiation between cells, or identification of irregularities. Silver is also used in bone prostheses and cardiac devices.

Silver acetate has been used as a potential aid to help stop smoking; a review of the literature in 2012, however, found no effect of silver acetate on smoking cessation at a six-month endpoint and if there is an effect it would be small.^[54] Silver has also been used in cosmetics, intended to enhance antimicrobial effects and the preservation of ingredients.^[55]

Adverse effects

Though toxicity of silver is low, the human body has no biological use for silver and when inhaled, ingested, injected, or applied topically, silver will accumulate irreversibly in the body, particularly in the skin, and chronic use combined with exposure to sunlight can result in a disfiguring condition known as argyria in which the skin becomes blue or blue-gray.^[12][56] Localized argyria can occur as a result of topical use of silver-containing creams and solutions, while the ingestion, inhalation, or injection can result in generalized argyria.^[57][58] Preliminary reports of treatment with laser therapy have been reported. These laser treatments are painful and general anesthesia is required.^[59][60] A similar laser treatment has been used to clear silver particles from the eye, a condition related to argyria called argyrosis.^[61] The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) describes argyria as a "cosmetic problem".^[62]

One incident of argyria came to the public's attention in 2008, when a man named

Colloidal silver may interact with some prescription medications, reducing the absorption of some antibiotics and thyroxine, among others.[65]

Some people are allergic to silver, and the use of treatments and medical devices containing silver is contraindicated for such people.^[12] Although medical devices containing silver are widely used in hospitals, no thorough testing and standardization of these products has yet been undertaken.^[66]

Water purification

Electrolytically dissolved silver has been used as a water disinfecting agent, for example, the drinking water supplies of the Russian

Alternative medicine

Colloidal silver
A bottle of colloidal silver
Alternative therapy
Legality	Not to be sold for consumption or for disinfection in Sweden.[73][74] Not to treat or prevent cancer (UK, Sweden, etc.) Illegal to be marketed as a dietary supplement or medicine in the U.S. [75]

Colloidal silver (a

In August 1999, the U.S. FDA banned colloidal silver sellers from claiming any therapeutic or preventive value for the product,[75] although silver-containing products continue to be promoted as dietary supplements in the U.S. under the looser regulatory standards applied to supplements.^[75] The FDA has issued numerous warning letters to Internet sites that have continued to promote colloidal silver as an antibiotic or for other medical purposes.^[80][81][82] Despite the efforts of the FDA, silver products remain widely available on the market today. A review of websites promoting nasal sprays containing colloidal silver suggested that information about silver-containing nasal sprays on the Internet is misleading and inaccurate.^[83] Colloidal silver is also sold in some topical cosmetics, as well as some toothpastes, which are regulated by the FDA as cosmetics (other than drug ingredients making medical claims).^[84]

In 2002, the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) found there were no legitimate medical uses for colloidal silver and no evidence to support its marketing claims.^[85] The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) warns that marketing claims about colloidal silver are scientifically unsupported, that the silver content of marketed supplements varies widely, and that colloidal silver products can have serious side effects such as argyria.^[50] In 2009, the USFDA issued a consumer advisory warning about the potential adverse effects of colloidal silver, and said that "there are no legally marketed prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) drugs containing silver that are taken by mouth".

It may be illegal to market as preventing or treating cancer, and in some jurisdictions illegal to sell colloidal silver for consumption.[73] In 2015 an English man was prosecuted and found guilty under the Cancer Act 1939 for selling colloidal silver with claims it could treat cancer.^[90]

Fraudulent products marketed during the COVID-19 outbreak

The

Controversial web show host, podcaster and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones was also warned by the New York Attorney General's office to stop marketing his colloidal silver infused products (toothpaste, mouthwash, dietary supplements, etc.) because he made unproven claims of its ability to fend off COVID-19.^[93]

History

Hippocrates in his writings discussed the use of silver in wound care.^[94] At the beginning of the twentieth century surgeons routinely used silver sutures to reduce the risk of infection.^[94][95] In the early 20th century, physicians used silver-containing eyedrops to treat ophthalmic problems,^[96] for various infections,^[97][98] and sometimes internally for diseases such as tropical sprue,^[99] epilepsy, gonorrhea, and the common cold.^[50][76] During World War I, soldiers used silver leaf to treat infected wounds.^[94][100]

In the 1840s, founder of gynecology J. Marion Sims employed silver wire, which he had a jeweler fashion, as a suture in gynecological surgery. This produced very favorable results when compared with its predecessors, silk and catgut.^[95]

Prior to the introduction of modern antibiotics, colloidal silver was used as a germicide and disinfectant.^[101] With the development of modern antibiotics in the 1940s, the use of silver as an antimicrobial agent diminished, although it retains some use in medicinal compounds today. Silver sulfadiazine (SSD) is a compound containing silver and the antibiotic sodium sulfadiazine, which was developed in 1968.^[66]

Cost

The National Health Services in the UK spent about £25 million on silver-containing dressings in 2006. Silver-containing dressings represent about 14% of the total dressings used and about 25% of the overall wound dressing costs.^[102]

Concerns have been expressed about the potential environmental cost of manufactured silver nanomaterials in consumer applications being released into the environment, for example that they may pose a threat to benign soil organisms.^[103]

See also

• List of ineffective cancer treatments
• Colloidal gold
• Antibiotic properties of nanoparticles

References