Answer:
Option B, The recommend minimum dose is 600 mg/day and the recommended maximum daily dose is 1000 mg/day
Explanation:
The first step in this dosage calculation question is the convert the patient's weight in pounds (lb) to a weight in kilograms (kg). To do so, the weight in pounds is multiplied by a conversion factor -- a proportion reflecting two equivalent measurements. 1 kg is equivalent to 2.2 lb, so the proportion becomes 2.2 lb / kg, or kg / 2.2lb.
44 lb × (kg / 2.2 lb)
lb in both numerator and denominator cancel each other out, leaving kg as the remaining unit.
44 × (kg / 2.2)
= 44 kg ÷ 2.2
= 20 kg
With the patient's weight in kilograms, the recommended minimum daily dose can now be determined by multiply said weight by the lowest amount that can the patient can safely be administered per the ordered amount.
The ordered amount is the quantity of medication to be administered to the patient as written by the provider, typically a physician. At times, it is written as a single integer with a mass as the units of measurement. In this case, it is written as a range of mass-to-weight ratios per day -- 30-50 mg/kg/day.
This means, the lowest amount of antibiotic medication erythromycin that the patient can safely and effectively be administered is 30 mg/kg/day. Multiplying this amount by the patient's weight in kilograms yields the recommended minimum daily dose.
30 mg/kg/day × 20 kg
kg in numerator and denominator cancel each other out, leaving mg/day as the remaining units.
30 mg/day × 20
= 600 mg/day
Using this alone, option B is the only potential answer choice. However, the recommended maximum dose must be determined next to solidify this answer.
Using the same process, the recommended maximum dose can be determined. Instead of using the lowest amount in the range of safe and effective doses, the highest amount is substituted in: 50mg/kg/day
50 mg/kg/day × 20 kg
kg in numerator and denominator cancel each other out, leaving mg/day as the remaining units.
50 mg/day × 20 kg
= 1000 mg/day
The recommended minimum daily dose is 600 mg/day and the recommended maximum daily dose is 100 mg/day, option B.
