Post operative patient is to receive 55 MG of antibiotic per hour. The medication is available from the pharmacy as 500 MG of antibiotic per 1 L of IV bag. What should the IV pump be set to in mL/min for the patient to receive the correct dosage?
The correct answer and explanation is :
To determine the correct IV pump setting in mL/min, follow these steps:
Step 1: Identify Given Information
- Dosage required: 55 mg per hour
- Available concentration: 500 mg per 1 L (1000 mL)
- Conversion factors: 1 L = 1000 mL, 1 hour = 60 minutes
Step 2: Find the Flow Rate in mL/hour
To determine how many mL of IV fluid contain 55 mg of the antibiotic:
[
\frac{1000 \text{ mL}}{500 \text{ mg}} = 2 \text{ mL per mg}
]
Thus, for 55 mg:
[
55 \text{ mg} \times 2 \text{ mL/mg} = 110 \text{ mL per hour}
]
Step 3: Convert to mL/min
Since 1 hour = 60 minutes, divide by 60:
[
\frac{110 \text{ mL}}{60 \text{ min}} = 1.83 \text{ mL/min}
]
Final Answer: Set the IV pump to 1.83 mL/min
Explanation (300 words)
To ensure the patient receives the correct antibiotic dosage postoperatively, the IV pump must be accurately set based on the available concentration. The prescription requires 55 mg per hour, while the available IV solution contains 500 mg in 1000 mL, meaning each 1 mg is in 2 mL of solution.
By multiplying 55 mg by 2 mL/mg, we determine the patient needs 110 mL of IV fluid per hour. However, IV pumps are set in mL per minute, requiring a conversion. Since 1 hour = 60 minutes, dividing 110 mL by 60 gives 1.83 mL per minute.
This calculation is crucial because incorrect settings can lead to underdosing (ineffective treatment) or overdosing (toxicity risks). In clinical practice, double-checking calculations and verifying IV pump settings are essential to ensure safe and effective medication administration.
Thus, the IV pump should be set to 1.83 mL/min to deliver the prescribed antibiotic dosage correctly.