Is silver having anti-microbial properties a new discovery?

How Do Silver Ions Kill Micro-organisms?

How long does it take to for Silver to kill various bacteria and viruses?

Are there scientific studies which have measured the effects of ionic silver on microbials?

How does silver-coated nylon generate silver ions?

Are nano silver, colloidal silver and silver citrate products similar?

Does ionic silver kill MRSA and other "resistant" strains?

How Do Silver Ions Kill Micro-organisms?

Unlike antibiotics which kill specific microorganisms, silver ions simultaneously attack up to ten sites in the cell which stop reproduction or cause death. Mutated pathogens do not survive. As a result, there are no known silver-resistant bacteria among medically-relevant strains. This property has caused infection control doctors, surgeons, and wound care specialists to select silver technology for medical devices.

Silver ions (Ag⁺) kill a very broad spectrum of medically-relevant bacteria, fungi (molds and yeasts) and deactivate viruses. Silver ions are antimicrobial at very low doses, as low as 0.001 ppm (1.0 ppb). Although silver is a heavy metal, in these very small concentrations, applied externally, it is nontoxic to human cells and very safe.

How long does it take to for Silver to kill various bacteria and viruses?

The interaction time required to kill bacteria or disable viruses is known as the "kill time".  Below is a Kill Time table for Silver Ions (Ag⁺).

Are there scientific studies which have measured the effects of silver ion on microbes?

Below are two peer-reviewed, university studies published by the American Society for Microbiology.

Silver-Coated Nylon Fiber as an Antibacterial Agent
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology
Pennsylvania State University, 1986

Silver Nylon: a New Antimicrobial Agent
Departments of Surgery and Orthopedic Surgery
Louisiana State University, 1982
 

How does silver-coated nylon generate silver ions?

First, the wetted silver surface reacts with oxygen, forming a silver oxide film. Next, some of the silver oxide dissolves, producing a dilute silver ion solution. Silver ions (Ag⁺) kill germs.

Are nano silver, colloidal silver and silver citrate products similar?

Yes. Silver ions (Ag+) are the sole antimicrobial agents in all silver-based sanitizers - whether they originate from “nano” silver, “colloidal” silver, silver salts (nitrates, citrates, etc.), or “metalic” silver. No form of silver should be taken internally.

Does ionic silver kill MRSA and other "resistant" strains?

Yes.  Thus far, silver ions (Ag⁺) have killed all bacteria, fungi (molds and yeasts) and deactivates viruses on which they have been tested and there are no known silver ion-resistant microorganisms.  Please see How Do Silver Ions Kill Microorganisms? for a more complete explanation and the Kill Time table above for specific interaction times required.