Medicine Grand Rounds, Edwin Kim “Drug Allergies Affecting the Care of Inpatients”

Drug allergies–in particular allergy to beta-lactam antibiotics–affects as many as 15% of all hospitalized patients. There is a growing pool of data demonstrating the significant effect a drug allergy diagnosis can have on morbidity and mortality of the hospitalized patient, as well as the immense cost it can add to the health care system. A simple skin-based testing procedure has been commercially available since 2009; data on its use has shown that the vast majority of penicillin-allergic patients are no longer allergic at the time of testing. However, far too few patients receive this testing. Dr. Kim will review data showing the scope of the drug allergy problem. This will include the diagnostic and therapeutic options for these patients, with a focus on the pilot UNC allergy and immunology inpatient penicillin allergy testing program.

Edwin Kim is specifically interested in the use of immunotherapy in the treatment of food allergy. He is the director of the UNC Allergy and Immunology Fellowship Training Program as well as of the UNC Food Allergy Initiative.