QUESTION 1
Baby A, weight 3500 g and 4 days of age, is clinically unwell with suspected neonatal meningitis
- IV amoxicillin: 30 mg/kg every 12 hours
- Weight 3500 g = 3.5 kg
- 30 mg x 3.5 kg = 105 mg/12 hourly
- IV cefotaxime: 50 mg/kg every 12 hours
- 50 mg x 3.5 kg = 175 mg/12 hourly
QUESTION 2
Baby B, weight 1700 g and 10 days of age, presents with suspected severe neonatal meningitis
- IV amoxicillin: 60 mg/kg every 8 hours in severe infection
- 60 mg x 1.7 g = 102 mg/8 hourly
- IV cefotaxime: 50 mg/kg every 8 hours
- 50 x 1.7 g = 85 mg/8 hourly
QUESTION 3
Baby C, weight 2200 g and 12 days of age with meningitis and confirmed gram-negative infection
- IV cefotaxime: 50 mg/kg every 8 hours
- 50 mg x 2.2 g = 110 mg/8 hourly
QUESTION 4
Baby D, weight 700 g and 2 days of age with meningitis and confirmed gram-positive infection
- IV amoxicillin: 30 mg/kg every 12 hours
- 30 mg x 0.7 g = 21 mg/12 hourly
- IV cefotaxime: 50 mg/kg every 12 hours
- 50 mg x 0.7 g = 35 mg/12 hourly
QUESTION 5
Baby E, weight 2600 g and 10 days of age with confirmed group B Streptococcus meningitis. Baby E’s gentamicin concentration returns as greater than acceptable levels and the dose should be reduced by 20% prior to next administration. What is the recalculated dose?
- IV benzylpenicillin 50 mg/kg every 12 hours
- 50 mg x 2.6 g = 130 mg/12 hourly
- IV gentamicin 5 mg/kg every 36 hours
- 5 mg x 2.6 g = 13 mg/36 hourly
- IV gentamicin reduced by 20%
- 13/100 x 80 = 10.4 mg