Antimicrobial dressings incorporating silver are utilized to manage and protect wounds. These medical products typically consist of a wound contact layer containing silver ions or nanoparticles, which are released into the wound bed to combat bacterial colonization. The silver component provides a barrier against infection by disrupting microbial cell function.
Their value stems from the ability to reduce the risk of wound infections, promote faster healing, and manage wound odor. The use of silver in wound care has historical precedent, with silver compounds having been employed for their antimicrobial properties long before the advent of modern antibiotics. Current applications leverage advances in material science to optimize silver release and efficacy.
