Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) nanofibrous mats containing silver nanoparticles were prepared by electrospinning. The diameter of the nanofibers ranged between 100 and 300 nm, as revealed by scanning electron microscopy. The silver nanoparticles were dispersed, but some aggregation was observed with transmission electron microscopy. The content of silver nanoparticles incorporated into the PVDF nanofibrous mats was determined by inductively coupled plasma and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The antibacterial activities of the samples were evaluated with the colony-counting method against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (Gram-negative) bacteria. The results indicate that the PVDF nanofibrous mats containing silver nanoparticles showed good antibacterial activity compared to the PVDF nanofiber control. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 116: 668-672, 2010