OBJECTIVE To explore the influence of silver nanoparticle dressing on prevention of infection and healing of the second degree burn wound. METHODS One hundred and ninety-one burn patients with second degree including superficial and deep burn wound were randomly divided into three groups. Group A including 65 cases was treated by silver nanoparticle dressing on wounds, and group B (63 cases) and group C (63 cases) were treated by 1% silver sulfadiazine cream and vaseline gauze on their wounds, respectively. Dressing was changed daily, and wound swab bacterial cultures were performed before and after dressing change, and also wound healing times were recorded in each patient. RESULTS Group A and B were similar in their bacterium colonizations on wound after treatment with the silver nanoparticle dressing and 1% silver sulfadiazine cream, and they had a similar effect on reducing bacterium colonization on wound after treatment, while in vaseline gauze group bacterium colonization on wound increased after treatment. In group A the wound healing time of superficial second degree was significantly shorter than those in group B and group C (P < 0.01). In deep second degree wounds the healing time in group A was much shorter than that in group C (P < 0.01), but had no significant difference when compared with group B (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Silver nanoparticle dressing can be used on second degree burn wound and can decrease the risk of wound infection and accelerate wound healing.