Prescribing liquid medication: can the dose be accurately given?

Table 1 Prescribed drug Administration route Concentration of drug available on ward Prescribed dose Calculated volume to be given/taken Syringe available on the ward Chloral hydrate Oral 500 mg/5 mL 50 mg 0.5 mL 2.5 mL Cefotaxime Intravenous 250 mg/mL 580 mg 2.32 mL 2.5 mL Dexamethasone Intravenous 3.3 mg/mL 1.4 mg 0.424 mL 1 mL Gentamicin Intravenous 80 mg/2 mL 66.5 mg 1.663 mL 2.5 mL Hydrocortisone Intravenous 50 mg/mL 1.6 mg 0.032 mL 1 mL Metronidazole Oral 200 mg/5 mL 175 mg 4.375 mL 5 mL Morphine Oral 10 mg/5 mL 1.48 mg 0.74 mL 1 mL Phenobarbitone Intravenous 60 mg/mL 5 mg 0.0833 mL 1 mL Phenytoin Oral 30 mg/5 mL 5 mg 0.8333 mL 1 mL Vancomycin Intravenous 50 mg/mL 88 mg 1.76 mL 2.5 mL The study found that one in eight prescribed doses of liquid medicine for children and neonates cannot be accurately measured in a single syringe. [...]research to explore whether there are clinical implications related to inaccurate dosing of liquid medicines should be undertaken, and education/supervision is required to ensure safe practice occurs.