Hospira bacteriostatic water (Pfizer) is sterile water for injection with 0.9% benzyl alcohol. Learn sizes, uses, storage, and safe buying basics.
Hospira bacteriostatic water is sterile water for injection that contains 0.9% benzyl alcohol as a preservative. Hospira has been part of Pfizer since 2015, so vials still bearing the Hospira name come through Pfizer's injectables portfolio. That preservative is what allows a single vial to be punctured more than once, which is the main reason it is chosen to reconstitute powdered medications instead of plain sterile water.
What Hospira Bacteriostatic Water Contains
Bacteriostatic water is not plain water. It is Sterile Water for Injection, USP, with benzyl alcohol added at roughly 9 mg per mL (0.9%).
The word bacteriostatic means the preservative slows bacterial growth inside the vial. That is what makes multi-dose use practical, since a needle may enter the same container repeatedly over days or weeks.
Key specifications
- Base: Sterile Water for Injection, USP
- Preservative: Benzyl alcohol 0.9%
- Presentation: Multi-dose glass vials with a rubber stopper and crimp seal
- Storage: Controlled room temperature, 20 to 25 degrees Celsius (68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit)
Bacteriostatic water is not interchangeable with preservative-free Sterile Water for Injection in every situation. The preservative is the entire difference, and for some patients that difference matters a great deal.
Why Pfizer Hospira Bac Water Is One Product, Not Two
Pfizer acquired Hospira in 2015, and the Hospira name continued to appear on injectable product labels after the deal closed. That is why shoppers searching for pfizer hospira bac water and shoppers searching for the Hospira version are usually looking at the same vial.
The branding you receive depends on the lot and on a distributor's remaining inventory. Pfizer Injectables supplies many former Hospira products, and the formulation itself has not changed.
Pfizer acquired Hospira in 2015, so a Hospira label on a bacteriostatic water vial reflects the original manufacturer rather than a competing product.
Vial Sizes and Packaging Options
Hospira bacteriostatic water is most commonly distributed in 10 mL and 30 mL multi-dose vials, along with bulk pack configurations built for clinics, pharmacies, and laboratories.
| Format | Typical fill volume | Common packaging | Who typically orders it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single vial, small | 10 mL | Individual vial | Pharmacies and small clinics |
| Single vial, large | 30 mL | Individual vial | Hospitals and compounding pharmacies |
| Bulk carton | 10 mL or 30 mL | 25 vials per carton | Institutional buyers |
| Case | 10 mL or 30 mL | Multiple cartons per case | Distributors and large facilities |
Exact configurations shift with supply. A pharmacist hunting for hospira bacteriostatic water 10 ml may find only the larger presentation in stock during a shortage, and the reverse happens just as often. Institutional buyers frequently compare hospira bacteriostatic water 30ml cartons against smaller vials to lower the per-mL cost and reduce handling.
Distributors often list a hospira bacteriostatic water 25 pack for buyers who move through vials steadily. Confirm the fill volume, the number of vials, and the expiration date before ordering, because a 25 pack sometimes means a carton of 25 vials and sometimes means a case holding several cartons.
What Bacteriostatic Water Is Used For, and What It Is Not
Bacteriostatic water is used to dissolve or dilute compatible powdered medications that will be given by injection. It is a fixture in hospital pharmacies, compounding labs, and clinical settings where a multi-dose vial is practical.
It is not appropriate everywhere. The following limits come from the product labeling and standard pharmacy practice:
- It is not intended for large-volume intravenous infusion.
- It is not for newborns or infants, because benzyl alcohol can cause serious harm in neonates.
- It is not for intrathecal or epidural use.
- It is not a substitute for preservative-free Sterile Water for Injection when a preservative-free diluent is required.
- It should not be used by anyone with a known sensitivity to benzyl alcohol.
Some people searching for this product are researchers or individuals reconstituting peptides sold as laboratory reference materials. Those products are generally not FDA-approved for human use, and using them outside a licensed medical setting carries real risk of contamination, dosing errors, and infection.
Safety, Storage, and Handling Basics
Bacteriostatic water is a prescription drug in the United States, not a general-purpose supply item. It should be handled with the same documentation and technique as any other injectable.
- Inspect every vial before use, and discard it if the solution is cloudy or contains particles.
- Swab the stopper with an alcohol pad and let it dry before each puncture.
- Follow your facility's discard policy; many pharmacies use 28 days after first puncture for multi-dose vials.
- Never share a single vial between patients.
- Store at controlled room temperature and protect the vial from freezing.
Anyone deciding whether this diluent fits a specific medication should confirm with a pharmacist or prescribing clinician. Formulation compatibility is not something to assume.
Buying Hospira Bacteriostatic Water Safely
Because it is a prescription product, the most reliable route is a licensed distributor, wholesaler, or pharmacy. Buyers should verify the NDC number, lot number, and expiration date, and should be cautious about listings that show no manufacturer information at all.
Marketplace listings can be confusing. A search for hospira bacteriostatic water amazon returns third-party offers, many of them labeled for research use only or not for human use, and those listings are not equivalent to a pharmacy purchase. If you need a documented, pharmacy-grade vial, work with a licensed supplier instead of a general marketplace seller.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hospira bacteriostatic water the same as Pfizer bacteriostatic water?
For practical purposes, yes. Pfizer acquired Hospira in 2015, and the Hospira brand continued to appear on injectable product labels after the acquisition. The formulation of bacteriostatic water for injection, USP, with 0.9% benzyl alcohol, did not change.
Can bacteriostatic water be used for IV fluids?
No. Bacteriostatic water is not intended for large-volume intravenous infusion, and it is not for use in newborns or infants because benzyl alcohol can cause serious harm in neonates. Use preservative-free Sterile Water for Injection when a preservative-free diluent is required.
Does bacteriostatic water expire after the vial is opened?
Multi-dose vials are not meant to be used indefinitely. Many hospitals and pharmacies follow a 28-day discard rule after the first puncture, but you should follow the manufacturer's labeling and your facility's policy. Discard any vial that looks cloudy or contains particles.
This page provides educational research information and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.