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5. Lara weighs 4 kg. She has an order for Ampicillin sodium 580 mg every 6 hours. What is her daily dose of ampicillin as ordered?

A)

580 mg

B)

1160 mg

C)

1740 mg

D)

2320 mg

E)

2900 mg

The correct answer is “D”.

Overall this is a good question. Although there is one piece of information which has no bearing in selecting the answer (the weight of Lara), the example is well written and structured. The stem is clear and the question being asked is straightforward and positively worded. There are no abbreviations contained within the text. The units are included for all measured parameters. There are 5 distinct responses listed in increasing numerical order. All the numbers are somehow related to the question. For example 580 not only is the single dose but it also could represent the mg/kg daily dose that Lara is receiving (580 x 4 = 2320, divided by 4kg = 580 mg/kg). Answers “B”, “C”, “D” and “E” are 580 mg increments. The 5 numerical answers are sufficiently different. The Angoff score for this question will be high but lower than in questions 1 and 2. To further improve the question a slightly longer clinical stem with the age of Lara and the reason antibiotics are to be prescribed could be included.

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