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History of the Medical Use of Silver
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Silver has been used extensively throughout recorded history for a variety of medical purposes. METHODS: A review of the literature in English was undertaken, primarily using PUBMED, to identify the medical uses of silver before the clinical introduction of antibiotics in the 1940s. RESULTS: Silver has been used for at least six millennia to prevent microbial infections. It has been effective against almost all organisms tested and has been used to treat numerous infections and noninfectious conditions, sometimes with striking success. Silver also has played an important role in the development of radiology and in improving wound healing. CONCLUSION: Silver was the most important antimicrobial agent available before the introduction of antibiotics.
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Cited by
Antimicrobial activity of metals: mechanisms, molecular targets and applications
Lemire, J. A., Harrison, J. J., & Turner, R. J. (2013) · Nature Reviews Microbiology · doi:10.1038/nrmicro3028 · Cited by 2,746
Silver nanoparticles: Synthesis, medical applications and biosafety
Xu, L., Wang, Y.-Y., Huang, J., Chen, C.-Y., Wang, Z.-X., & Xie, H. (2020) · Theranostics · doi:10.7150/thno.45413 · Cited by 1,315
Biofilms in the Food Industry: Health Aspects and Control Methods
Galié, S., García-Gutiérrez, C., Miguélez, E. M., Villar, C. J., & Lombó, F. (2018) · Frontiers in Microbiology · doi:10.3389/fmicb.2018.00898 · Cited by 964
Antimicrobial Activity of Metal and Metal‐Oxide Based Nanoparticles
Gold, K., Slay, B., Knackstedt, M., & Gaharwar, A. K. (2018) · Advanced Therapeutics · doi:10.1002/adtp.201700033 · Cited by 758
Greulich, C., Braun, D., Peetsch, A., Diendorf, J., Siebers, B., Epple, M., & Köller, M. (2012) · RSC Advances · doi:10.1039/c2ra20684f · Cited by 389
Metadata
- Authors
- Alexander, J. W.
- Venue
- Surgical Infections
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2009-06
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 289-292
- ISSN
- 1096-2964 (ISSN-L)
- 1557-8674
- OpenAlex
- W2120818089
- Cited by
- 851
- References
- 0
- FWCI
- 5.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
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