Korean J Clin Microbiol.  2007 Apr;10(1):37-43.

In Vitro Antimicrobial Activities of NanoSilver-coated Gauze against Clinical Isolates

• Uh Y
• Hwang GY
• Yoon KJ
• Kim HY
• Uh HS
• Kwon OK

Abstract

BACKGROUND: It is well-known that silver ions and silver compounds are broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents effective against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, and yeasts. Thus, silver ions, as an antibacterial agent, have been used in the components of materials used in medical devices or coatings. Recently, advances in nanotechnology have enabled manufacturers to develop silver particles of a nanometer size with a safer and more effective antimicrobial activity. So, we evaluate the antimicrobial activity of nanoSilver-coated gauze against clinical isolates.
METHODS
Three kinds of nanoSilver-coated gauzes (100A, 800A, and 1,500A) were tested for antimicrobial activity by the disk diffusion method. The organisms tested included clinical isolates of nonfermentative gram-negative bacilli (143 isolates), aerobic gramnegative bacteria (188), aerobic gram-positive bacteria (397), anaerobic bacteria (46), and yeasts (161), and three reference ATCC strains.
RESULTS
The susceptible rates to NanoSilver of nonfermentative gram-negative bacilli (NFB), aerobic gramnegative bacteria and aerobic gram-positive bacteria were 87%, 87% and 78%, respectively. Antimicrobial activity of NanoSilver against imipenem-resistant NFB, extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriaceae, and methicillin-resistant Staphylcoccus aureus (MRSA) was similar to that against imipenem-sensitive NFB, ESBL non-producing Enterobacteriaceae, and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus.
CONCLUSION
NanoSilver-coated gauze exhibits broad spectrum antimicrobial activities to a large number of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria including imipenem-resistant NFB, ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae, and MRSA.

Keyword

Silver nanoparticle; Antimicrobial activity; Nonfermentative gram-negative bacilli; Gram-positive bacteria; Gram-negative bacteria

MeSH Terms

Anti-Infective Agents
Bacteria
Bacteria, Anaerobic
beta-Lactamases
Diffusion
Enterobacteriaceae
Gram-Negative Bacteria
Gram-Positive Bacteria
Ions
Methicillin Resistance
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Nanotechnology
Silver
Silver Compounds
Yeasts
Anti-Infective Agents
Ions
Silver
Silver Compounds
beta-Lactamases