Glossary
Sterile technique
Also written aseptic technique, sterile
The handling that keeps a vial and an injection free of contamination: clean hands, an alcohol-wiped stopper, a fresh needle every time.
The failure this prevents is not subtle. Injecting contaminated material produces local infection at best, and the fact that a solution looks clear says nothing. Bacterial growth is invisible long before it is visible.
The habits are short: wash hands, swab the vial stopper and the skin with alcohol and let both dry, use a new needle for every draw and every injection, and never return a used needle to the vial.
Bacteriostatic water buys time against contamination introduced during use; it does not sterilise anything and it does not rescue a vial that was handled carelessly.
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