Topical Colloidal Silver as an Anti-Biofilm Agent in a Staphylococcus aureus Chronic Rhinosinusitis Sheep Model
Here’s a very interesting abstract of an in vivo (animal model) clinical study published in April 2015 in the International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology, demonstrating the safety and effectiveness of colloidal silver in the treatment of Staphylococcus aureaus biofilms located in the sinuses of sheep. [A “biofilm” consists of a colony of bacteria living within a mucilaginous protective coating, making them more difficult for antibiotic drugs to reach and kill — ED].
Both a safety study, and an efficacy study were conducted. In the safety study, saline solution was used a control, while 30 ppm colloidal silver was tested against it as a flush for the frontal sinuses. The sheep sinuses were flushed with the solutions for 14 days (eight sheep total; four sheep tested with the control solution, and four with the colloidal silver solution). In the efficacy study, sheep with frontal sinus infections of Staphylococcus aureaus were tested for five days with either the control solution, or with colloidal silver solutions of concentrations ranging respectively from 30 ppm to 20 ppm, 10 ppm and 5 ppm. Again, there were four sheep in each group. The researchers state, “Blood silver level, full blood counts, and biochemical parameters were analyzed in both safety and efficacy studies…. Sheep treated with silver showed a significant decrease in biofilm biomass compared to saline control. Although average blood silver levels were higher in the treated groups compared to controls, blood counts and biochemical parameters were normal. Histology and ciliary structure analysis did not show any difference between control and treatment groups.”
The researchers concluded, “Topical colloidal silver solution has effective antibiofilm activity in Staphylococcus aureus CRS in a sheep model and appears safe.”
