Comparative evaluation of silver‐containing antimicrobial dressings and drugs

Abstract

Wound dressings containing silver as antimicrobial agents are available in various forms and formulations; however, little is understood concerning their comparative efficacy as antimicrobial agents. Eight commercially available silver-containing dressings, Acticoat 7, Acticoat Moisture Control, Acticoat Absorbent, Silvercel, Aquacel Ag, Contreet F, Urgotol SSD and Actisorb, were tested to determine their comparative antimicrobial effectiveness in vitro and compared against three commercially available topical antimicrobial creams, a non treatment control, and a topical silver-containing antimicrobial gel, Silvasorb. Zone of inhibition and quantitative testing was performed by standard methods using Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus. Results showed all silver dressings and topical antimicrobials displayed antimicrobial activity. Silver-containing dressings with the highest concentrations of silver exhibited the strongest bacterial inhibitive properties. Concreet F and the Acticoat dressings tended to have greater antimicrobial activity than did the others. Topical antimicrobial creams, including silver sulfadiazine, Sulfamylon and gentamicin sulfate, and the topical antimicrobial gel Silvasorb exhibited superior bacterial inhibition and bactericidal properties, essentially eliminating all bacterial growth at 24 hours. Silver-containing dressings are likely to provide a barrier to and treatment for infection; however, their bactericidal and bacteriostatic properties are inferior to commonly used topical antimicrobial agents.

Assessment of in vivo antimicrobial activity of the carbene silver(I) acetate derivative SBC3 using Galleria mellonella larvae

“…While the mode of action of silver is not fully elucidated it has been shown to inactivate NADH and succinate dehydrogenase and so interfere with electron transfer in respiration (Park et al 2009). Exposure to silver may also lead to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which induces protein and DNA degradation (Park et al 2009;Atiyeh et al 2007;Castellano et al 2007). Previous work demonstrated the induction of an oxidative stress response in C. albicans when exposed to Ag(I) ions (Rowan et al 2010).…”

Pt(II) and Ag(I) complexes with acesulfame: Crystal structure and a study of their antitumoral, antimicrobial and antiviral activities

“…According to the literature, Ag(I) ions have shown to be highly reactive, binding to tissue proteins and leading to structural changes in the bacterial cell wall [43]. Silver also binds to bacterial DNA and RNA leading to inhibition of bacterial replication [43,44]. Indeed, promising results about the bactericidal activity of silver nanoparticles have been recently described in the literature [45,46].…”

Exposure of Staphylococcus aureus to silver(I) induces a short term protective response

“…Ag(I) ions interact with thiol groups of the L-cysteine residue of proteins (Park et al 2009;Cortese-Krott et al 2009;Atiyeh et al 2007;Castellano et al 2007). This inactivates enzymatic functions involved in the respiratory chain such as NADH and succinate dehydrogenase which can impede electron transfer (Park et al 2009).…”

“…This inactivates enzymatic functions involved in the respiratory chain such as NADH and succinate dehydrogenase which can impede electron transfer (Park et al 2009). Another mechanism of action involves the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (Park et al 2009;Cortese-Krott et al 2009) which induces oxidative stress (Park et al 2009) and leads to protein and DNA degradation (Park et al 2009;Atiyeh et al 2007;Castellano et al 2007). Exposing the yeast Candida albicans to Ag(I) ions activates the Cap1p and Hog1p pathways as a consequence of oxidative and/or osmotic stress (Rowan et al 2010).…”