Silver in Healthcare -- Contents -- Acknowledgements -- Chapter 1 Silver in Health and Disease -- References -- Chapter 2 Silver and its Compounds, Chemistry and Biological Interactions -- 2.1 Silver: the Essentials -- 2.2 Silver in the Environment and Ecosystem -- 2.3 Analysis of Silver in Biological Materials -- 2.4 Nanotechnology -- 2.5 Silver Compounds in Antibiotic Therapy and Medical Devices -- References -- Chapter 3 Uptake and Metabolism of Silver in the Human Body -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Oral Exposure -- 3.3 Dermal Contact and Percutaneous Absorption -- 3.4 Inhalation and Absorption of Silver through the Respiratory Tract -- 3.5 Miscellaneous Routes of Silver Exposure and Systemic Absorption -- 3.6 Silver in Textiles -- 3.7 Metabolism of Silver in the Human Body -- References -- Chapter 4 Silver as an Antibiotic: Problems of Resistance -- 4.1 Historical Aspects -- 4.2 Mechanisms of Antibiotic Action -- 4.3 Bacterial Resistance to Silver -- 4.4 Biofilm Formation -- 4.5 Antiviral Action of Silver -- References -- Chapter 5 Silver in Medical Devices: Technology and Antimicrobial Efficacy -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Wound Care and Management -- 5.3 Medical Catheters -- 5.4 Orthopaedic Devices -- 5.5 Cardiovascular: Heart Valves and Stents -- 5.6 Acupuncture Needles -- 5.7 Discussion -- 5.8 Further Reading -- References -- Chapter 6 Silver as an Antibiotic in Water Systems -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 Silver in Natural Water Sources, its Distribution and Environmental Influence -- 6.3 Legionnaires' Disease -- 6.4 Katadyn and Silver-Copper Technology in Water Purification -- 6.5 Regulatory Requirements for Silver in Water Purification -- References -- Chapter 7 Silver Technology and Antibiotic Textiles -- 7.1 General Features -- 7.2 Natural and Synthetic Fibres in Textile Production -- 7.3 Infections in the Human Skin and its Appendages.

7.4 Influence of Textiles on the Human Skin -- 7.5 Silver Technology in Antibiotic Textiles -- 7.6 Summary -- 7.7 Further Reading -- References -- Chapter 8 The Toxicology of Silver -- 8.1 Introduction -- 8.2 Argyria, Argyrosis -- 8.3 Toxicology of Silver in Cell Cultures -- 8.4 Systemic Toxicity -- 8.5 Carcinogenicity -- 8.6 Teratogenicity -- 8.7 Further Reading -- References -- Chapter 9 Silver and Organs of Special Sense -- 9.1 Introduction -- 9.2 Brain and Peripheral Nervous System -- 9.3 Silver Nitrate and Colloidal Silver in Oral Hygiene -- 9.4 Neurological Implications from Silver in Medical Devices -- 9.5 The Eye -- 9.6 The Ear -- 9.7 Taste and Smell -- References -- Chapter 10 A Final Thought: How Much Silver is Too Much? -- References -- Subject Index.