The invention relates to an antimicrobial silicate glass with the following weight composition in wt. % based on oxides: SiO.sub.2 20 to 70, Na.sub.2O 5 to 30, K.sub.2O 0 to 5, P.sub.2O.sub.5 1 to 15, B.sub.2O.sub.3 0 to 10, CaO 4 to 30, AgO 0 to 2, ZnO 0 to 8, CuO 0 to 5, MgO 0 to 8, Al.sub.2O.sub.3 0 to 7, CeO.sub.2 0 to 5, Fe.sub.2O.sub.3 0 to 2 whereby the sum of the components AgO, CuO, CeO.sub.2 is >10 ppm, preferably .gtoreq.100 ppm and <8 wt. %.