0.9% bacteriostatic saline

0.9% bacteriostatic saline is a sterile solution of sodium chloride in water for injection, containing 0.9% (9 mg/mL) of benzyl alcohol as a bacteriostatic preservative. While traditionally used as a sterile vehicle for diluting or dissolving drugs for injection, it is being investigated by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) for its off-label use as a local anesthetic in minor eyelid procedures. The anesthetic effect is attributed to the benzyl alcohol component, which is an aromatic alcohol that provides rapid, short-acting local anesthesia. A Phase 4 clinical trial (NCT05294640) is evaluating its efficacy and patient comfort compared to lidocaine with epinephrine for procedures involving eyelid tumors, abscesses, and other lesions.

Other names

bacteriostatic salinebacteriostatic sodium chloride 0.9%