A tool kit developed by Mildred Kwan, MD, PhD, assistant professor of medicine in the division of rheumatology, allergy and immunology, and Renae Boerneke, PharmD, will educate patients and train healthcare providers to proactively assess penicillin allergies. Delabeling patients who are not truly allergic to penicillins is an important stewardship tool that decreases unnecessary use of broad-spectrum antibiotics.
An estimated 10% of the US population reports having an allergic reaction to a penicillin-class antibiotic. However, when evaluated, fewer than 1% are truly allergic. Broad-spectrum antibiotics are a common alternative to penicillins and are associated with more side effects, higher healthcare costs, and antimicrobial resistance. When a patient’s allergy is removed from their medical record after a medical evaluation, it is called de-labeling. De-labeling patients who are not truly allergic to penicillins is an important stewardship tool that decreases unnecessary use of broad-spectrum antibiotics.
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