Mechanism of Prophylaxis by Silver Compounds against Infection of Burns

To clarify tthe mechanism by which local application of silver compounds protects burns against infection, an ion-specific electrode was used to measùre the concentration of silver ions in solutions. By this method it was shown that in burn dressings silver ions were reduced to a very low level by p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMJ 1970-05, Vol.2 (5707), p.444-446
Main Authors: Ricketts, C. R., Lowbury, E. J. L., Lawrence, J. C., Hall, M., Wilkins, M. D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adsorption
Animals
Burns - complications
Chlorides
Cream
Guinea Pigs
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
In Vitro Techniques
Ion concentration
Ions
Nitrates
Papers and Originals
Potentiometry
Pseudomonas aeruginosa - drug effects
Radioisotopes
Respiration
Silver
Silver - therapeutic use
Silver compounds
Silver Nitrate - therapeutic use
Skin - drug effects
Skin - metabolism
Sodium
Teeth
Wound Infection - prevention & control
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Summary:To clarify tthe mechanism by which local application of silver compounds protects burns against infection, an ion-specific electrode was used to measùre the concentration of silver ions in solutions. By this method it was shown that in burn dressings silver ions were reduced to a very low level by precipitation as silver chloride. The antibacterial effect was found to depend on the availability of silver ions from solution in contact with precipitate. Between 10-5 and 10-6 molar silver nitrate solution in water was rapidly bactericidal. The minimal amount of silver nitrate causing inhibition of respiration of skin in tissue culture was about 25 times the minimal concentration of silver nitrate that inhibited growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
ISSN:0007-1447
0959-8138
1468-5833
DOI:10.1136/bmj.2.5707.444