Question

Zyvox 600 mg IV once a day is ordered for a patient. The Zyvox is dissolved in 350 mL of NS and should infuse over 1 hour. Using tubing with a drop factor of 20 gtt/mL, how many drops per minute should the Zyvox be infused

Answer 1

Calculation of Zyvox infusion drops per minute:

Step 1:

No of drops per min = Total volume of infusion X gtt/min / Total time of infusion in min

Step 2:

Total volume of infusion = 350mL (600mg Zyvox dissolved in 350 mL of NS)

gtt/min = 20

Total time of infusion per min = 1hr X 60 = 60 min.

Step 3:

By substituting in the formula

No of drops per min =

= 118 drops per min.

Zyvox should be infused at a rate of 118 drops per min.

21. Potassium chloride infusion

Step 1:

Ordered dose of potassium chloride = 40mEq

Potassium chloride infusion policy = 10mEq / hr.

Therefore ordered dose of 40mEq of potassium chloride should be infused over 4 hrs.

Step 2:

40 mEq of potassium chloride dissolved in 200mL of D₅W

So, 240mL of potassium chloride infusion is administered over 4 hours.

Step 3:

Calculating the mL per hour.

240mL = 4 hrs.

1hr = 240 / 4

1hr = 60mL.

The IV pump should be programmed for 60mL per hour.