Silver Dressings

Silver (antimicrobial) dressings release ionic silver to reduce bacterial bioburden in wounds that are infected or at high risk of infection. They come in foam, hydrofiber, alginate and matrix formats so absorbency can be matched to exudate. Use within an antimicrobial-stewardship approach: reassess at 2 weeks and discontinue once infection is controlled. Not a substitute for systemic antibiotics where infection is spreading.

How to choose & when to switch

Choose a silver dressing for a wound that is infected or clearly at high risk of infection. Silver is for a defined infection episode — not an everyday dressing.

The 2-week rule: reassess after ~2 weeks. Improving → plan to stop the silver; not improving → stop it and seek review, as the cause may need different treatment. Switch off silver once infection is controlled and the wound is clean and granulating, moving to a simple non-antimicrobial dressing. Silver dressings do not replace antibiotics — see a clinician for spreading infection or any systemic signs (fever, feeling unwell).