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Prevalence and Validity of Self‐Reported Antibiotic Allergy in Emergency Department Patients
Author(s) -
Wong Jeremy,
Knott Jonathan C,
Taylor David McD,
MacBean Catherine E
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of pharmacy practice and research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.222
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 2055-2335
pISSN - 1445-937X
DOI - 10.1002/j.2055-2335.2008.tb00810.x
Subject(s) - medicine , emergency department , antibiotics , allergy , penicillin allergy , referral , rash , penicillin , dermatology , drug allergy , pediatrics , family medicine , immunology , psychiatry , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
Aim To determine the prevalence of self‐reported antibiotic allergy and the likelihood of true antibiotic hypersensitivity in emergency department patients. Method A convenience sample of emergency department patients were reviewed for antibiotic allergy. Patients with self‐reported allergy were invited to participate in a structured interview to obtain a detailed allergy history. The interview findings were reviewed to determine the likelihood of the self‐reported reaction being an allergy. Results 141/1087 (13%; 95%CI 11.1–15.2) patients reported an antibiotic allergy. 18 antibiotics were reported as allergens, with penicillin reported 107 times (prevalence 9.8%; 95%CI 8.2–11.8). 41 patients underwent a structured interview. More than 20 different allergy symptoms were reported, especially rash, redness and itchiness. 9 (19%; 95%CI 0.7–15.7) patients were classified as unlikely to have a true antibiotic hypersensitivity. Conclusion Although, self‐reported antibiotic allergy is common, a considerable proportion are unlikely to be true hypersensitivities. Further education, referral and skin‐prick testing of patients is needed.