5 Benefits of Using Bacteriostatic Water

Bacteriostatic water is the type of water that is created to inhibit the growth and development of many types of bacteria. This type of water is sterilized and filtered, with any bacteria removed. The water is also mixed with 0.9% benzyl alcohol to prevent contamination or growth of bacteria. Because of the 0.9% benzyl alcohol, bacteriostatic water is static and relatively have unchanged bacterial content. Bacteriostatic water is different from the sterile water, which is purified and filtered and does not have additives. Also, the sterile water is only available for one use. However, the use of bacteriostatic water depends on the type of application. Whichever the case, there are four types of bacteriostatic water, which are bacteriostatic preservatives, antiseptics, antibiotics, and disinfectants. These four types of bacteriostatic water can easily be distinguished. Furthermore, when bacteriostatic water is used for medication, the duration of therapy should be sufficient enough for a proper host defense mechanism.

1. Bacteriostatic water can be used to dissolve or dilute medications for the patient injection. In that case, there are three methods of injection, which are intramuscular, intravenous, and subcutaneous injection. With intramuscular injection, the muscle is accessed by using a needle. For the intravenous, the injection is carried out by accessing the veins. With the subcutaneous method, the injection is performed under the skin. Each method is used depending on the type of treatment and how it will be effective based on the prescription by the medical practitioner.
2. Bacteriostatic water can be used multiple times during medication. This is because the contaminating bacteria cannot grow and reproduce at the same time. Therefore, there is no chance that the bacteria will function as an infectious agent. Also, the water does not contain anti-bacterial agent like the other type of fluids that are used during medical injection. As mentioned before, the bacteriostatic water just prevents the growth of bacteria in the water that used for medical dilution. Unlike the anti-bacterial agents, benzyl alcohol does not have adverse effects to the medication. This justifies the repeated use of bacteriostatic water in medication. It has a broader array of drug injections and dilutions without interacting with the bacteria-destroying substances.
3. When used in clinical pharmacology, bacteriostatic water is essential for water balance in the body tissue. Also, water contributes more than 70% of the human body weight. However, water balance in the body tissue depends on the level of the electrolyte, which also plays an important role in the maintenance of a physiologic equilibrium.
4. Unlike the plain saline liquid, bacteriostatic water can be stored for a longer time. However, if it remained unused for more than 28 days; the manufacturer recommends that the water is discarded. After 28 days, benzyl alcohol would have lost its effect of preventing the growth of bacteria. Sometimes the bacteriostatic water uses salt instead of benzyl alcohol to inhibit the growth of bacteria. The reason will depend on why bacteriostatic water is used for the injection dilution.
5. Bacteriostatic water is readily available, cheap, and easy to manufacture. It can also be manufactured from home if you understand the correct procedure and have all of the requirements. It is delivered using a multi-dose flagon from which several withdrawals can be made to dissolve or dilute the drugs for injection. Depending on the use of bacteriostatic water, benzyl alcohol is applied as preservative, antiseptics, antibiotics, or disinfectants. The pH level is maintained between 4.5 and 7.0, with the most preferred value as 5.7. The safety of the plastic container is confirmed based on the organic standards. The container should not have a vapor barrier for proper volume labeling.