Bacterostatic Water

Bacteriostatic water is sterile water that contains a small amount (0.9%) of benzyl alcohol as a preservative. This allows for repeated withdrawals from the same vial without the risk of significant microbial contamination.

Here's a breakdown of its key aspects:

Uses:

Diluting or dissolving medications: Its primary use is to reconstitute or dilute drugs that are administered by intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), or subcutaneous (SubQ) injection. This is done according to the instructions provided by the medication's manufacturer.
Multiple-dose vials: The presence of benzyl alcohol allows for multiple uses of a single vial of bacteriostatic water, reducing waste, as long as proper sterile technique is followed.