Question

A physician orders penicillin 525,000 units q4h for a child who weighs 55 lbs. The recommended dosage is 100,000 250,000 units/kg/day in six divided doses. The pharmacy stocks the 200,000 units/mL concentration. What is the child's weight in kg? What is the safe daily dosage range for this child? Is the ordered dose safe?

Answer 1

a. 24.9476 Kg.

b. The safe daily dosage range is between 2494760 units /day and 6236900 units/day

c. Yes

Explanation:

a. Lets see the convertion from lb to Kg:

• 1 Lb= 0.453592
• 55 lb = 0.453592*55= 24.9476 kg

b. Minimum daily dosage is 100,000 units /kg

• For this kid: 100,000 * 24.9476= 2,494,760 units/ day

• in 6 dosis; 2494760/6= 415,793.33 units every 4 hours

Maximun daily dosage is 250,000 units /kg

• For this kid: 250,000 * 24.9476= 6,236,900 units/ day

• in 6 dosis; 6,236,900/6= 1,039,483.33 units every 4 hours

c: Yes, because 525.000 units every 4 hours is between the minimun and maximun dosaje for this kid