Evidence of silver used as an antimicrobial date back to at least the Greek and Roman empires, and hieroglyphs indicate that ancient Egyptians used silver to purify water. In the modern era, silver in mainstream medicine was common well into the 20th century. Field doctors in World War I sprinkled a mix containing silver powder on the wounds of fallen soldiers to prevent the spread of dangerous bacteria and silver nitrate was used as a salve in newborn's eyes to protect against the spread of venereal disease from the mother. Silver fell out of favor with doctors after the widespread adoption of antibiotics, but it is still widely used in holistics to treat a variety of ailments.
Anti-bacterial
Bacteria use a chemical enzyme to metabolize oxygen. Silver doesn't attack the bacteria directly, but rather disables the enzyme so the organism, in effect, suffocates and dies. This distinction gives silver an advantage over traditional antibiotics which can lose effectiveness as resistant bacteria evolve. Silver is not bacterium-specific.
Anti-viral
Viruses work by invading the nucleus of a cell and commandeering the cell function so that it produces more copies of the virus rather than whatever hormone or chemical it is tasked to create. Like bacteria, viruses use enzymes to metabolize oxygen and power the cell. Silver disables the enzyme, choking the cell and halting the production of more viral compounds.
Surface Disinfectant
Colloidal silver works as a contact disinfectant on medical devices, counter tops and work surfaces where contamination is suspected. Laboratory tests demonstrate efficacy against strep, staph, e-coli and salmonella, among others.
Wound Dressing
Commercially available wound dressings approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration use colloidal silver for the topical treatment of minor wounds. While the antimicrobial properties of silver are not in dispute, study results are mixed pertaining to the speed with which a wound treated with silver heals, compared to a wound dressed without silver.
Conditions
Silver salve as a topical treatment is indicated for acne, minor scrapes and burns, as well as insect bites. Silver nitrate is used in products for the treatment of warts and corns and also in a number of underarm deodorants.
The FDA
The FDA in 1999 banned manufacturers of salves containing silver, often marketed as colloidal silver or ionized silver, from making specific health claims related to the treatment or prevention of diseases. It has the status of a dietary supplement in that it remains unregulated but cannot be marketed as a drug or indicated as a treatment.
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