History of the medical use of silver

Area of Science:

• Historical Medicine
• Antimicrobial Agents
• Medical History

Background:

• Silver possesses a long history of medical application, dating back thousands of years.
• Its use predates the modern pharmaceutical era and the advent of antibiotics.

Observation:

• A literature review identified medical uses of silver prior to the 1940s.
• Research focused on English-language publications, primarily from PubMed.

Findings:

• Silver has been utilized for at least six millennia to prevent microbial infections.
• It demonstrated efficacy against a wide spectrum of microorganisms.
• Silver was instrumental in treating various infectious and noninfectious conditions, and in advancing radiology and wound care.

Implications:

• Silver served as the most critical antimicrobial treatment before the antibiotic era.
• Understanding historical antimicrobial strategies provides context for current therapeutic approaches.
• The findings underscore the enduring significance of silver in medical history.