Question

The IV order is to infuse Ciprofloxacin 100 mg in 50 mL 0.9% NS q.12h. The pharmacy sends the mixed IVPB with instructions to infuse over 45 minutes. The drop factor of the IV tubing is 15 gtt/mL. Calculate the flow rate in gtt/min for this IVPB.

Answer 1

Answer:

Flow rate = 16.67 gtts/min rounded to 17 gtts/min

Explanation:

In order to calculate the flow rate, the following formula will be used.

Flow rate (gtts/min) = $\frac{Volume (mL)}{Time (minutes)} Drop factor (gtts/mL)$

50 mL of fluid in which Ciprofloxacin is dissolved is taken as volume.

KNOWN DATA:

Volume = 50mL

Time = 45 minutes

Drop factor = 15 gtts/mL

Flow rate = unknown

CALCULATION:

Plugging the known values in the formula,

Flow rate (gtts/min) = $\frac{Volume (mL)}{Time (minutes)} Drop factor (gtts/mL)$

Flow rate = $\frac{50}{45}$ x 15

Flow rate = 16.67 gtts/min.