Prophylactic treatment methods

A method of prophylactically treating pneumonia, comprising:

• contacting an area of a subject with an atomically disordered, nanocrystalline silver-containing material to reduce the occurrence of pneumonia in the subject,
• wherein the area of the subject is selected from the group consisting of the oral cavity and the nasal cavity.

A method of prophylactically treating a condition, comprising:

• contacting a first area of a subject with a metal-containing material to reduce the occurrence of the condition at a second area of the subject,
• wherein the first area of the subject is an area of the subject other than the skin.

A method of prophylactically treating a condition, comprising:

• contacting a first area of a subject with a metal-containing material to reduce the occurrence of the condition at a second area of the subject,
• wherein the metal-containing material is in a form other than a dressing.

A method of prophylactically treating a condition, comprising:

• contacting a first area of a subject with a metal-containing material to reduce the occurrence of the condition at a second area of the subject,
• wherein the condition is a non-bacterial condition.

A method of prophylactically treating a condition, comprising:

• contacting an object with a metal-containing material to reduce the occurrence of the condition at an area of a subject,
• wherein the object is intended to be contacted with the subject or a material in contact with the object is intended to be contacted with the subject.