Question

A practitioner prescribes penicillin G benzathine suspension (Bicillin L-A) 2.45 million units for a client with a sexually transmitted infection (STI). The medication is available in a multidose vial of 10 mL in which 1 mL = 300,000 units. How many mL should the nurse administer?

Answer 1

The nurse should administer approximately 8.1667 mL of the penicillin G benzathine suspension.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the amount of mL the nurse should administer, we need to determine how many units are present in 2.45 million units of penicillin G benzathine suspension. According to the information given, 1 mL of the suspension contains 300,000 units. So, we can set up a proportion to find the equivalent mL for 2.45 million units:

1 mL / 300,000 units = x mL / 2.45 million units

Cross-multiplying gives us:

300,000 units * x mL = 1 mL * 2.45 million units

Simplifying:

300,000x = 2.45 million

Dividing both sides by 300,000:

x = 8.1667 mL

Therefore, the nurse should administer approximately 8.1667 mL of the penicillin G benzathine suspension.