Why Silver in Wound Care: Separating Fact from Fiction
Wound infection and biofilm continue to emerge as causes of wound chronicity. Innovative technologies that break down the complex microbial communities inherent in these wounds are important considerations in the treatment plan. Advanced antimicrobial wound dressings play key roles in managing wound exudate and optimizing the wound healing environment.
Ionic silver exhibits antimicrobial activity against a broad range of microorganisms. Silver has multiple sites of antimicrobial action on the target cells within the wound bed. This antimicrobial activity supports silver’s important role in controlling bioburden in wounds while potentially limiting the need for antibiotics and reducing the risk of development of antibiotic resistance.
Although silver has been used as a topical antimicrobial agent in wound care for hundreds of years, clinicians continue to be unclear about the element’s mode of action and the various forms of silver available within wound dressings. This program will review the history of silver’s use in wound care, its mode of action, and the various formulations of silver available in antimicrobial wound dressings.
Registrants attending this session will learn:
- The history of silver’s use in wound care and the antimicrobial action of silver in wounds
- How to separate fact from fiction regarding effects of silver, e.g., tissue staining, toxicity
- Distinctions between silver antimicrobial dressing formulations and the impact on the dressing’s antimicrobial action in wounds
