microbiology

According to a general micro book:

'Several heavy metals can be biocidal or antiseptic, including silver, mercury, and copper. This is referred to as oligodynamic action. This effect is produced by the action of heavy metal ions on microbes. Heavy metal ions can denature proteins in microbes and viruses (cold sores), Silver is used as an antiseptic (silver nitrate) and was once used at 1% to treat newborns eyes infected with gonorrhea.'

Microbiology: An Introduction (Tortora) 9th ed. 2007

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