ReviewSurgical infections2013
Use of silver in the prevention and treatment of infections: silver review.
Review in Surgical infections, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 64 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
64 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 198 citations in OpenAlex.
- Silver diamine fluoride versus sodium fluoride for arresting dentine caries in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Scientific reports · 2019Pooled it
- Topical antimicrobial prophylaxis in colorectal surgery for the prevention of surgical wound infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Techniques in coloproctology · 2018Pooled it
- Bacterial Colonization of Silver-Additive Ventilator Circuit in Patients Receiving Mechanical Ventilation: A Randomized Controlled Trial.The clinical respiratory journal · 2025Trial
- International Collaboration in Science Promotes Progress in Pharmacotherapy.Pharmacotherapy · 2026Article
- Evaluating Punica granatum mediated AgNPs acaricidal activity against Rhipicephalus microplus and Sarcoptes scabiei using in vitro and in silico analyses.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Treatment of Periprosthetic Joint Infection After Tumor Megaprosthetic Reconstruction: A Narrative Review.Cancers · 2026Review
- Green Synthesis of Ag/AgCl Nanoparticles From Argan Oil Waste: Characterization, Antibacterial, and Cytotoxicity Activities.Food science & nutrition · 2025Article
- Concentration-dependent responses of C. reinhardtii to silver ions: hormetic response in growth and reduction of motility.The European physical journal. E, Soft matter · 2025Article
- Clinical translation and landscape of silver nanoparticles.Drug delivery and translational research · 2025Review
- Healing Rates and Dressing Frequency of Silver Foam Dressings in Paediatric Burns: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis.European burn journal · 2025Review
- Article
- Wearable nitric oxide-releasing antibacterial insert for preventing device-associated infections.Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society · 2024Article
- An In Vitro Study on the Application of Silver-Doped Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Prevention of Post-Implant-Associated Infections.International journal of molecular sciences · 2024Article
- Cell migration, DNA fragmentation and antibacterial properties of novel silver doped calcium polyphosphate nanoparticles.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Aerosol Inhalation Delivery of Ag Nanoparticles in Mice: Pharmacokinetics and Antibacterial Action.Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- 2-Pyridinecarboxaldehyde-Modified Chitosan-Silver Complexes: Optimized Preparation, Characterization, and Antibacterial Activity.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- In-Vivo Bactericidal Potential ofBiomedicines · 2023Article
- Nanosilver: An Old Antibacterial Agent with Great Promise in the Fight against Antibiotic Resistance.Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Review
- A Review of Metal Nanoparticles Embedded in Hydrogel Scaffolds for Wound Healing In Vivo.Gels (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Review
- Review
4 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe use of silver for the treatment of various maladies or to prevent the transmission of infection dates back to at least 4000 b.c.e. Medical applications are documented in the literature throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. The bactericidal activity of silver is well established. Silver nitrate was used topically throughout the 1800 s for the treatment of burns, ulcerations, and infected wounds, and although its use declined after World War II and the advent of antibiotics, Fox revitalized its use in the form of silver sulfadiazine in 1968.
methodReview of the pertinent English-language literature.
resultsSince Fox's work, the use of topical silver to reduce bacterial burden and promote healing has been investigated in the setting of chronic wounds and ulcers, post-operative incision dressings, blood and urinary catheter designs, endotracheal tubes, orthopedic devices, vascular prostheses, and the sewing ring of prosthetic heart valves. The beneficial effects of silver in reducing or preventing infection have been seen in the topical treatment of burns and chronic wounds and in its use as a coating for many medical devices. However, silver has been unsuccessful in certain applications, such as the Silzone heart valve. In other settings, such as orthopedic hardware coatings, its benefit remains unproved.
conclusionSilver remains a reasonable addition to the armamentarium against infection and has relatively few side effects. However, one should weigh the benefits of silver-containing products against the known side effects and the other options available for the intended purpose when selecting the most appropriate therapy.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.