Outside the health care sector, silver is incorporated in sponges, food containers, cutting boards, counter tops, tables and refrigerator interiors to protect against food contamination. Toys, sporting goods, athletic equipment, wrestling mats and computer keyboards contain silver. Silver is employed in washing machine wash and rinse waters and in sports and military clothing to reduce infections and odors.
Chemical & Engineering News describes a new method from Nexxion for applying a permanent Ag+ coating to catheters, IV needles, and other medical devices, the chief technical officer of the company says, “To date, no pathogens have been able to survive contact with silver.”
Silverbackspray.com offers self-contained Ag+ generating applicators using distilled water and silver cloth. Produced by E. Kunz, Inc. of Colorado Springs CO.
AcryMed, a nanotechnology company, recently announced FDA approval of its product SilvaGard, a silver-nanotechnology coating which protects medical devices from bacteria. The company states, “Ag+ has been long recognized and used as a highly effective antimicrobial.”
Cooling Tower, humidifier, spa and swimming pool waters are sanitized with Ag+ ions.
Covalon, has introduced an antimicrobial Ag+ releasing, collagen-based sheet dressing for wound care. The president of the company says, “In the wound dressings market, silver dressings growth outperforms all others in this category.”
A press release by Curad quoted Philip M. Tierno, Ph.D., Director of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology at New York University Medical Center and author of The Secret Life of Germs (Atria Books 2004), “Silver is a natural antibacterial that works by killing bacteria, fungi and yeast by interfering with metabolisms necessary for life.”
Curad and Johnson & Johnson bandages are now available impregnated with Ag+.
AgION states that, “Today silver is a key ingredient in new high-tech, powder-coated finishes that hospitals and doctors’ offices are using to protect walls, counters and other germ-gathering surfaces.”
Hospitals and other medical facilities use Ag+ technology in climate control system components and ductwork to prevent the transmission of bacteria that cause Legionnaires Disease. Water service to hospitals use silver-ion technology.
ARC Outdoors uses silver-infused fabric from NanHorizons Inc. to produce antimicrobial socks for the U.S. military, Wal-Mart, Bass ProShops and Cabelas.
SmartSilver is a brand of odor-eliminating underwear, stocking caps and gloves that employ Ag+ to kill bacteria on contact.
Slippers and pillows now have Ag+ compounds incorporated into the fabric to prevent odor-causing bacteria.
Samsung recently introduced a clothes washing machine that kills 99% of bacteria in cold water using electrolytically-generated silver ions.
Containers for food storage are now being impregnated with Ag+ releasing compounds to prevent bacterial growth that contributes to spoilage.
Adidas and Polartec have licensed silver-coated nylon fabric from X-Static to incorporate germ-killing silver in athletic and outdoor clothing for their ability to kill odors (caused by organisms).
Gray Matter brand air filter media, produced by BEC Technologies of Colorado Springs, CO, contains activated carbon made antimicrobial with Ag+.
J-Wear is a new type of anti-bacterial, water-absorbent, odor-eliminating clothing designed for space missions. Antistatic and flame retardant, their socks, T-shirts, trousers and leggings are made of cotton and polyester coated with silver.
Writing pens, bathmats, cutting boards and door knobs are being coated with silver compounds to prevent bacteria from reproducing and spreading.
Microbecide™ incorporates Ag+ technology for diverse use in personal, professional, commercial and industrial applications. Other areas of use include food contact surfaces, clinical work surfaces, medical wipes and water treatment applications.
Prisons, where stubbornly resistant staph infections are problematic, are turning to Ag+ for a solution. Ag+ technology is presently being utilized in 15 different correctional facilities in Oklahoma, Kansas, Tennessee, Ohio, Minnesota, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Florida and Texas.
Cruise lines are employing Ag+ technologies as a defense against ship-wide Norovirus (stomach virus) outbreaks.
