The role of silver in wound healing.

Bacteria present in wounds can have a negative impact on healing, so the increase in multi-resistant bacterial strains is a cause of concern for wound care. Silver has been demonstrated to have anti-microbial effects and has not as yet been shown to suffer from bacterial resistance, so an increasing number of manufacturers have launched wound care products utilising silver. A number of research studies have examined the effectiveness of silver-based products in reducing bacterial burden and treating wound infection. The general conclusion of these studies is that silver can be a useful tool in treating infected wounds, but the effectiveness of silver-based products is dependent upon the form of silver used and the delivery mechanism.