When it comes to water used in medication and hospitals, you can be sure that water sterility is a crucial element. Bacteriostatic water is entirely free from contamination making it safe to use in drugs and medication.
How clean does your clinical water have to be? Exceedingly so, and dirt is not the only thing to keep out of the water. If you have ever had a shot of injection before, you might have wondered the type of water is used in the mix…
You got it, if you are looking for water to use in injections, it is best to go with those containing only healthy bacteria. This might already give you some idea as to what bacteriostatic water is. To find out more, continue reading.
What is Bacteriostatic Water?
It is different from tap water in composition, but not in appearance. So it is entirely possible to mix it up in the lab if you don’t know how to differentiate them. Put simply, a bacteriostatic fluid is a liquid used in medical therapy. But that’s not all there is to it. As you can imagine, there are other types of fluids used in medical care.
On a broader spectrum, bacteriostatic water is referred to as injection water. This contains both water used for hydration, such as drip water, and water used to dissolve meds for injections. To pass the test for clinical use, the fluid will have to be at the right pH value and meet other criteria determined by experts.
Component of Bacteriostatic Water
You would also like to know that the liquid is a bacteria cultured solution prepared to inhibit most bacteria’s growth. It comprises a sterile and filtered fluid free from any contaminant, with a mix of 0.9% benzyl alcohol. The alcohol aims to prevent any further contamination until it has been dispersed out of the packaging.
Uses of Bacteriostatic Water
You will mainly be using this type of liquid when looking to dilute medications for patient’s injections. It could also be used in other hospital preparations where the fluid needs to be sterile, filtered, and bacteria-free. This type of liquid can only be used once and can’t be altered once left exposed for long.
How to Use
There are specific ways to administer injectable treatments. The best methods to administer bacteriostatic fluids are:
· Intravenously
You would likely have had to take your injection through any of the major venous openings in the body. This is done with a sterile needle used to pass the liquid into the body via the vein.
· Intramuscular
You can also shoot bacteriostatic water into the body through the muscle. This should be performed with a needle and carefully too, as it can be challenging to inject a muscle than a vein.
· Subcutaneous
This type of treatment is performed under the layer of the skin. Also, you will need a needle to prick through the skin. Most subcutaneous type meds help deal with skin-related conditions, but it is also common for other ailments.
When it comes to deciding the administration method, a medical expert is in the best position to make the right decision. So you want to ensure you avoid self-administration. You can check here to find more on how to administer injections safely.
Where to Buy Bacteriostatic Water?
You want to check at your local drug store for injection fluids. Make sure it is a licensed dispensary and avoid retailers without official affiliations to medicine providers. Since it will be impossible for you to tell the difference between liquids, make sure you buy from a trusted merchant.
Final Note
Bacteriostatic water is used in the process of injection preparation and has to be free from any contaminants. Always get expert medical advice when looking to buy or prepare meds.