Final answer:
The dose of penicillin G is measured in mass units such as milligrams (mg) or grams (g), which are essential for ensuring the correct administration and patient safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
The unit of measurement used to measure a dose of penicillin G is typically in mass units such as milligrams (mg) or grams (g), depending on the dosage required. In a medical context, specifying the units is crucial to ensure patient safety and to avoid potentially harmful dosing errors. Just as an example of unit conversion, a nurse with 50 mg aspirin tablets who needs to administer 0.2 g of aspirin must know to administer 4 tablets, as 1 tablet equals 50 mg and 0.2 g equals 200 mg.
Penicillin G is a narrow-spectrum antibiotic and cannot be administered orally due to its instability in an acidic environment; hence it is given intravenously or intramuscularly. Understanding the correct dosage and units is essential when dealing with medications. For instance, 100 mg of phenobarbital may be an effective dose while 100 g would be a lethal dose, highlighting the importance of units. When dosing medications like penicillin G, health professionals rely on standardized units to ensure effectiveness and safety.