Centre for Antibiotic Allergy and Research
Department of Infectious Diseases, Austin Health - 145 Studley Road Heidelberg, Melbourne, VIC 3084, Australia
@CAAR_Aus | +61394964572
10 Golden Rules of Penicillin Allergy
INTRODUCTION
The "10 Golden Rules of Penicillin Allergy" were put together by #SoMe via @twitter and the "penicillin allergy family". They were posted on the @CAAR_AUS site and reproduced here.
- Do not label a patient as penicillin allergic if they have not had a reaction to penicillin (e.g. family history only) @PAallergy
- Do not label a patient as penicillin allergic if they report a known drug side effect (e.g. vomiting, diarrhoea) @TrubianoJason
- Do not automatically label a patient that is penicillin allergic also allergic to cephalosporins @TracyZembles @drdavidwjg
- Do not label a patient allergic to a beta-lactam class (e.g. penicillins) - name the implicated drug (e.g. amoxicillin) @ABsteward
- Do not label as penicillin allergic if a rash to penicillin or amoxicillin occurred during mononucleosis (i.e. EBV) @TanyaLaidlawMD
- Penicillin allergy is rarely forever @KimberlyBlumen1
- Penicillin allergy should always be investigated @EricMacyMD
- Penicillin allergy in the EMR should include the allergy type, timing, severity and tolerated antibiotics @julie_justo
- A change in a patient’s penicillin allergy "label" needs to be conveyed to the patient, provider and referrer @marylynnstaicu
- Usual rules of penicillin cross-reactivity do not apply to severe cutaneous adverse reactions (e.g. SJS, TEN, DRESS) @peripatetical