Abstract
Background: Hypersensitivity to beta-lactam (BL) antibiotics is one of the most
frequent reported drug allergies. In our population, it is common to find labels of
BL allergy in electronic medical records (EMRs) that have not been assessed. The
objective of our study was to detect patients with beta-lactam allergy labels in
their EMRs and to assess how many of them are false after a correct diagnostic
evaluation.
Methods: A multicentre prospective study was performed with patients labelled
as allergic to BLs in their EMRs in the previous 5 years. Demographical and clinical
data, as well as variables regarding the BL allergy label and the characteristics of
the index reaction from clinical history and EMRs, were recorded. Then,
diagnostic assessments including clinical history, skin tests (STs), and drug
provocation tests (DPTs) were conducted in order to confirm or exclude the
diagnosis of BL allergy.
Results: A total of 249 patients completed the study, of which 160 (64.3%) were
women with a median age of 57 years (interquartile range [IQR], 45–68). The most
frequent BL allergy labels detected were for penicillin (124), amoxicillin/clavulanic
acid (61), and amoxicillin (54). Of the 204 patients who underwent STs, 20.1%
were positive. DPTs were performed in 224 patients, showing good tolerance in
87.1% of cases. After the allergy diagnosis work-up, 186 patients (74.7%) were
diagnosed as non-allergic to BL antibiotics.
Conclusion: In our study population, the number of patients labelled as allergic to
BLs in their EMRs was similar to that in previously published studies, with
proportions near to 75%–80% being falsely labelled as allergic to BLs.
frequent reported drug allergies. In our population, it is common to find labels of
BL allergy in electronic medical records (EMRs) that have not been assessed. The
objective of our study was to detect patients with beta-lactam allergy labels in
their EMRs and to assess how many of them are false after a correct diagnostic
evaluation.
Methods: A multicentre prospective study was performed with patients labelled
as allergic to BLs in their EMRs in the previous 5 years. Demographical and clinical
data, as well as variables regarding the BL allergy label and the characteristics of
the index reaction from clinical history and EMRs, were recorded. Then,
diagnostic assessments including clinical history, skin tests (STs), and drug
provocation tests (DPTs) were conducted in order to confirm or exclude the
diagnosis of BL allergy.
Results: A total of 249 patients completed the study, of which 160 (64.3%) were
women with a median age of 57 years (interquartile range [IQR], 45–68). The most
frequent BL allergy labels detected were for penicillin (124), amoxicillin/clavulanic
acid (61), and amoxicillin (54). Of the 204 patients who underwent STs, 20.1%
were positive. DPTs were performed in 224 patients, showing good tolerance in
87.1% of cases. After the allergy diagnosis work-up, 186 patients (74.7%) were
diagnosed as non-allergic to BL antibiotics.
Conclusion: In our study population, the number of patients labelled as allergic to
BLs in their EMRs was similar to that in previously published studies, with
proportions near to 75%–80% being falsely labelled as allergic to BLs.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 1423719 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Frontiers in Pharmacology |
| Volume | 15 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 27 Jun 2024 |
Keywords
- beta-lactam
- delabelling
- drug provocation test
- electronic medical records
- skin test
- penicillin