Bacteriostatic water is a sterile, non-pyrogenic preparation of water for injection that contains 0.9% (9 mg/mL) of benzyl alcohol as a preservative. It is used exclusively as a diluent or solvent to dissolve or dilute medications for intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous injection.
Key Details & Uses
- Multi-Use Capability: Unlike standard sterile water—which comes in single-use vials and must be discarded immediately—bacteriostatic water allows for multiple needle punctures into the same vial.
- Preservative Lifespan: Once the vial is opened, the benzyl alcohol prevents bacterial growth, keeping the solution safe for repeated withdrawals for up to 28 days. After this period, the remainder must be discarded.
- Indications: It is not a medication itself. It is strictly used to prepare other injectable drugs or to reconstitute lyophilized (freeze-dried) powders and peptides.
Important Safety Information
- Not for Neonates: Bacteriostatic water is not for use in newborns or infants, as the benzyl alcohol preservative can cause severe toxic reactions (such as “gasping syndrome”).
- Proper Administration: It must be combined with a compatible medication before injection. Injecting bacteriostatic water by itself directly into the bloodstream without another drug can cause complications like red blood cell hemolysis.
- Sterile Technique: Always swab the rubber stopper with alcohol before each withdrawal to maintain sterility.
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