Management of Children with Reported Penicillin Allergies

Tracy N Zembles; David E Vyles; Michelle L Mitchell

doi:10.1016/j.idc.2021.11.001

Management of Children with Reported Penicillin Allergies

Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2022 Mar;36(1):219-229. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2021.11.001.

Authors

Tracy N Zembles¹, David E Vyles², Michelle L Mitchell³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Enterprise Safety, Children's Wisconsin, Children's Corporate Center, Suite C450, 999 North 92nd Street, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Children's Corporate Center, Suite C550, 999 North 92nd Street, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
³ Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Medical College of Wisconsin, Children's Corporate Center, Suite C450, 999 North 92nd Street, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.

PMID: 35168712
DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2021.11.001

Abstract

Penicillin allergy is the most commonly reported medication allergy. Reported allergy is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Risk categorization tools can help determine the optimal testing strategies to delabel patients with reported allergy. Approaches to allergy removal include oral challenge in low-risk patients and skin testing in high-risk patients. Many different locations may be used to test for allergy, including ambulatory care clinics, inpatient units, and emergency departments. Interventions (eg, use of the electronic medical record) are needed to ensure that once the allergy is removed, this information is effectively transmitted to the patient and appropriate providers.

Keywords: Allergy; Challenge; Children; Penicillin.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Child
Disease Progression
Electronic Health Records
Emergency Service, Hospital
Humans
Hypersensitivity*
Penicillins / adverse effects

Substances

Penicillins