A patient with a gram-positive skin infection is to receive daptomycin 500 mg IV every 24 hours. A secondary infusion bag contains 0.9% saline with daptomycin 500 mg/100 mL to be infused in 30 minutes. How many mL/hour should the nurse program the infusion pump?

A patient with a gram-positive skin infection is to receive daptomycin 500 mg IV every 24 hours. A secondary infusion bag contains 0.9% saline with daptomycin 500 mg/100 mL to be infused in 30 minutes. How many mL/hour should the nurse program the infusion pump?

• A. 150
• B. 200
• C. 250
• D. 300

Answer: (B)

Infusion rate is calculated by dividing the volume to be infused by the time over which it should be given. The piggyback bag has 100 mL to infuse in 30 minutes, which is 0.5 hours. 100 mL ÷ 0.5 h = 200 mL per hour. So the pump should be programmed for 200 mL/hour.

Infusion rate is calculated by dividing the volume to be infused by the time over which it should be given. The piggyback bag has 100 mL to infuse in 30 minutes, which is 0.5 hours. 100 mL ÷ 0.5 h = 200 mL per hour. So the pump should be programmed for 200 mL/hour.