Water is an essential part of patient care, and while regular drinking water and bathing water can go through regular filtration processes, the water in IV bags is another story. IVs and other systems that send fluids directly into the bloodstream require sterile water. Just as surgical instruments require special sterilization techniques and equipment, so does the water that is put into the bloodstream. Sterilizing water, however, is no easy process. Keeping it sterile is an even greater challenge.

Risks of Regular Fluids

Tap water, even after thorough filtration, contains trace elements of compounds that should never be put into the bloodstream. Transferring water from a faucet to an IV bag without creating dangerous bubbles is next to impossible. Simple exposure to air can ruin sterile water. The fact that IVs contain not only water, but medicine, also complicates the issue. It’s possible for the tiny imperfections in tap water to interfere with the other contents of an IV, jeopardizing the patient’s treatment and life.

Unlike scalpels and other surgical tools, there is no efficient way for hospitals, clinics, and first responders to sterilize their own water. The sheer amount of water required for just the IVs in a hospital would make small systems useless, anyway. Bottled or bagged sterile water is the only sure way to avoid contamination.

Sterile water isn’t just clean. Since it’s going into the bloodstream directly, thereby bypassing the body’s natural filters and digestive safeguards, it cannot contain any antimicrobial or bacteriostatic elements. These would harm the patient. Sterile water must also be hypotonic and nonpyrogenic in order to serve as an irrigating fluid.

The Best Brand and Packaging Options

It’s important to only buy sterile water from trusted brands. While standards for tongue depressors are kept relatively low, anything that comes into direct contact with the bloodstream must meet strict guidelines. Although many medical centers have preferred brands, B. Braun is one of the most reputable sterile water providers available.

Sterile water from B. Braun comes prepackaged in IV bags ready for use. These environmentally friendly bags are all non-toxic and biodegradable, so they won’t linger in landfills for eternity. Sterile water has a number of uses, and some sellers ship it in bottles. While this may work well for a few uses, IV bags ought to be sealed in advance in order to keep the contents safe and sterile. Ease of use also weighs in the packaging’s favor, since time is always of the essence in a busy medical environment.

STERILE WATER FROM B. BRAUN

IV fluid can never come from a tap, and it’s a poor decision to pour it from a bottle. The chances of contamination are all but assured, and any patient can easily die from contaminants in their bloodstream. The best option is to purchase pre-sealed IV bags complete with sterile water. Companies like B. Braun, provide exceptional service and superior products that are far more trustworthy than anything you can get from a tap or bottle. Medical facilities rely on the highest safety standards for their products in order to protect patients. B. Braun’s sterilized water is the best and easiest choice.