Activated silver coatings for surgical implants.

Increase in current from 1.8 to 3 and then to 9 microAH+DC/cm2 controlled respectively 25%, 37%, and 69% of S aureus on intramedullary silver pins (too soft in practice) in femurs of rabbits. Then optimal current of 12 muAH+DC/cm2 was used. On stainless steel pins with intramedullary injection of AgCl or AgNO3, a 25% or 64% bacterial control was achieved. Stainless steel pin, silver electroplated or electroplated and chloridized gave 85% and 91% bacterial control. One hundred percent of the bacteria was eliminated with stainless steel pins coated with 100 monomolecular layers of silver stearate.