Silver compounds are often used as disinfectants.

They work by releasing the heavy metal ions in a controlled manner. This causes lasting damage to the metabolism of the microbes.

A typical compound is the mild disinfectant silver sulfadiazin, which has a polymeric structure.

Bismuth compounds have been used for 200 years to treat the intestinal tract. They function as disinfectans and regulate the pH-value.

"Basic Bi(III)-Citrate" or "basic Bi(III)-Nitrate" are typical of this class of compounds. These two compounds are polymeric.