Cefaclor (Ceclor) is prescribed for a child with an infection. The order states to give 20 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8 hours. The child weighs 86 pounds. The nurse would administer how many milligrams per dose?
Convert the child’s weight in pounds to kilograms:
1 lb = 0.45 kg .
0.45 kg × 86 lbs = 38.7 kg (round up to 39 kg) .
Find how many milligrams total per day must be administered for the child’s weight, if 20 mg/kg per day is required:
20 mg (per kilo) × 39 kg = 780 mg/day in total to be administered .
Find how many milligrams PER DOSE must be administered by dividing the total amount of milligrams by 3:
780 mg/3 doses = 260 mg q8hr .
