Throughout history, people have taken advantage of the antimicrobial properties of silver. 

The Greeks and Romans stored water in silver as it was believed this kept the liquids fresh.

During the plagues in Europe, wealthy families ate from silver plates and utensils, in the hope that
silver might protect them from the disease that was claiming their neighbor's lives.

The expression ‘born with a silver spoon in the mouth’ had a dual meaning. Not only did it
refer to wealth, it also referred to health. People were eating off silver spoons because they
knew that an infection couldn’t survive on silver.

Without knowing it people were taking advantage of the natural ANTIMICROBIAL properties
of silver.

Today many products are produced using silver to give antibacterial properties to that
surface. Silver antibacterial socks, silver soap, silver-lined curtains in hospitals, silver-lined
bandages for treating burns, silver-lined bandaids, silver toothbrushes etc.