Bacterial inhibition by electrical activation of percutaneous silver implants

Abstract

Percutaneous silver wire implants were looped through the dorsal skin of rats and inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus to test the effect on bacteria in the tract. The silver was activated with four brief daily applications of anodic microcurrent. Contralateral 316L stainless steel implants, identically inoculated, served as controls. Cultures from the silver tracts showed a marked reduction or elimination of bacteria, which persisted for the 3-week study period. In tracts with colonization established for 1 week, subsequent electrical activation of the silver also suppressed the bacteria. Inflammatory reactions at 3 weeks were mild at both the silver and stainless implants and no giant cells or toxicity were seen. This suggests that electrically activated silver may be useful in preventing or treating infection at percutaneous devices.