1.Calculations:

a)150 micrograms to Milligrams:

1 microgram = 0.001 Milligram

Therefore 150 micrograms = 150 x 0.001 = 150/ 1000 = 0.15 Milligram

b)150 micrograms to Grams:

1 microgram is 1/1000000g

Therefore 150 micrograms = 150 / 1000000 = 0.00015g

c)150 micrograms to Kilograms:

1 microgram = 1.0 × 10-9 Kilogram

Therefore 150 micrograms = 150 × 10-9 Kilogram = 0.00000015 Kilogram

2. a) 3000 micrograms to Milligrams:

3000 x 0.001 = 3000 / 1000 = 3 Milligrams

b) 3000 micrograms to Grams:

3000 / 1000000 = 0.003Gram

c)3000 micrograms to Kilograms:

3000 micrograms = 3000 × 10-9 Kilogram = 0.000003 Kilogram

3) a) 28500 micrograms to Milligrams

28500 x 0.001 = 28500 / 1000 = 28.5 Milligrams

b) 28500 micrograms to Grams:

28500 / 1000000 = 0.0285 Gram

c) 28500 micrograms to Kilograms:

28500 × 10-9 Kilogram = 0.0000285 Kilogram

4) a) 52000 micrograms to Milligrams:

52000 x 0.001 = 52000 / 1000 = 52 Milligrams

b) 52000 micrograms to Grams:

52000 / 1000000 = 0.052 Gram

c) 52000 micrograms to Kilograms:

52000 × 10-9 Kilogram = 0.000052 Kilogram

5) a) 106000 micrograms to Milligrams:

106000 x 0.001 = 106000 / 1000 = 106 Milligrams

b) 106000 micrograms to Grams:

106000 / 1000000 = 0.106 Gram

c) 106000 micrograms to Kilograms:

106000 × 10-9 Kilogram = 0.000106 Kilogram

Millilitres to Litres:

1)400

1 Millilitre = 0.001Litre

400 Millilitres = 400 x 0.001Litre = 400/1000 = 0.4 Litre

2)3800

3800 Millilitres = 3800 x 0.001Litre = 3800 /1000 = 3.8 Litres

3)23750

23750 Millilitres = 23750 x 0.001Litre = 23750 /1000 = 23.75 Litres

4)89200

89200 Millilitres = 89200 x 0.001Litre = 89200 /1000 = 89.2 Litres

2.Example of miscalculation of drugs and analysis of impact

The errors occurring while calculating the dosage of drugs are referred to as medication errors and it is considered to be a chronic problem in the field of healthcare. The miscalculations that occur within dosage of the drugs frequently remain overlooked and this can be related to inappropriate dosage calculation with respect to the body weight, age of the patients.

Example:

A pharmacist prescribed dosage of amoxicillin for a nine months old baby having body weight of 13 lbs. The instruction is to administer 333 mg of suspension of drug amoxicillin at routine intervals of 12 hours for the next 7 days.

Explanation:

The above dosage recommendation indicates that 666 mg of suspension of drug amoxicillin has to be administered to the baby each day, whose body weight is 13 lbs and age is nine months old. The prescription demonstrates two potential errors –

1) The dosage prescribed is higher than the UK practice guidelines as per the body weight of the patient (Saxena, 2014).

2) The dosage should be divided into two equal portions after the strict routine intervals of 12 hours but was prescribed to administer the full dosage twice.

Therefore, the correct calculation should be –

To convert the weight (in lb) to kg it should be divided by 2.2 13 lbs / 2.2 = 6.5 kg

As per British National Formulary for Children (BNFC) (2011 – 2012) guidelines children who are under 1 year age band should receive maximum of 62.5 mg of penicillin group of drugs (Paediatric Formulary Committee, 2012). However, in addition to this as per 2011 guideline any children having body weight less than 40 kg can receive amoxicillin suspension for any kind of indications up to 40–90 mg/kg/day (Saxena, 2014).

6.5 kg x 90 mg/kg = 585 mg per day.

Each dosage value will be = 585 mg / 2 = 292.5 mg every 12 hours.

Past scientific evidence have revealed that dosage prescribed not in accordance to guidelines can result in several drug contraindications or negative reactions among children such as antibiotic related diarrhoea, convulsions, antimicrobial resistance (both at low and high dosage) without showing any benefits of the antibiotic prescribed (Saxena, 2014; Chung, 2007; Laxminarayan, 2013).