Question

. A child is to receive vancomycin 450 mg IVPB q6 h. The patient weighs 70 lb on admission. The recommended dosage is 40 to 60 mg/kg/24 h q6 h. a. Child’s weight is _______ kg. b. How many milligrams per kilogram per 24 hours is the patient receiving? _______ c. Is the order Safe?

Answer 1

A child weighing 70 lb (31.75 kg) is receiving a dosage of approximately 56.69 mg/kg/24 h of vancomycin, which falls within the recommended therapeutic range of 40 to 60 mg/kg/24 h, thus indicating that the prescribed order is safe.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question is evaluating appropriate medication dosing for a pediatric patient based on their body weight, using vancomycin as the example drug to be administered.

1. Child's weight in kg: To convert pounds to kilograms, the general formula is 1 lb = 0.453592 kg. Therefore, a child weighing 70 lb would be 70 lb * 0.453592 kg/lb = 31.75 kg.
2. Milligrams per kilogram per 24 hours: The patient is prescribed 450 mg every 6 hours. In 24 hours, the patient would receive 450 mg * 4 = 1800 mg total. To find the dosage per kg, divide the total 24-hour dose by the child's weight in kg: 1800 mg / 31.75 kg = approximately 56.69 mg/kg/24 h.
3. Order safety: According to the recommended dosage of 40 to 60 mg/kg/24 h, the patient is receiving a dosage within the safe recommended range as the calculated dose is 56.69 mg/kg/24 h.

Given these calculations, the doctor's order is deemed safe for the child as it is within the recommended therapeutic range.