#371 It’s time to challenge penicillin allergy labels!
CLINICAL QUESTION
Can low-risk patients with beta-lactam allergy receive an oral beta-lactam challenge safely?
BOTTOM LINE
In adults with a history of non-severe cutaneous reaction to a beta-lactam over 5-10 years ago, the penicillin allergy label can be removed 87-98% of the time. Direct oral challenge with a beta-lactam is likely as safe and effective as doing a skin test first. Risk of severe adverse reactions <1%.
Reading Tools for Practice Article can earn you MainPro+ Credits
Join NowAlready a CFPCLearn Member? Log in
EVIDENCE
- Oral challenge alone versus skin testing followed (if negative) by oral challenge:
- Two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in patients recruited from allergy outpatient clinics, with non-severe cutaneous reaction to beta-lactam >1 year ago (children)1 or >10 years ago (adults).1,2
- First RCT (382 adults), amoxicillin 250-500mg:2
- No serious adverse effects, hospitalizations or emergency room visits.
- Penicillin allergy label removed: >98% (both groups).
- Immune mediated reaction <1 hour after test: One in each group (cutaneous, mild).
- Delayed rash/urticaria: 3.2% versus 1.6% (skin test first), no statistical difference.
- Second RCT (159 adults/children), amoxicillin 20-40mg then 200-400mg 30 minutes later based on age/weight:1
- Reaction <30 minutes after test: 4% (cutaneous, mild) versus 0% (skin test first), no statistical difference (PEER calculation).
- Penicillin allergy label removed: 96% versus 87% (skin test), no statistical difference.
- First RCT (382 adults), amoxicillin 250-500mg:2
- Two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in patients recruited from allergy outpatient clinics, with non-severe cutaneous reaction to beta-lactam >1 year ago (children)1 or >10 years ago (adults).1,2
- Oral challenges with no prior skin testing: Six systematic reviews of cohort studies, children/adults, mostly outpatients (2-31 cohorts, 595-6,980 oral challenges):3-8
- Immediate/delayed hypersensitivity reactions: 2.7-8.8%.3-7
- Severe reactions (examples: anaphylaxis needing epinephrine, serum-like illness, interstitial nephritis): 0-0.04%.6-8 Additional systematic review: Inconsistent reporting.3
- Limitations: Various definitions of “low-risk patients” or harms (example: anaphylaxis), limited data in primary care.
CONTEXT
- Penicillin “allergy”: Reported in ~10% of the general population.9
- Amoxicillin associated with non-IgE (delayed onset) rash in ≤7% children; associated with concurrent viral infection.10
- Guidelines recommend:10
- Direct amoxicillin challenge (with no preceding skin test): Adults with remote (>5 years ago) and benign cutaneous history.
- Skin test: Patients with history of anaphylaxis/recent IgE-mediated reaction (example: immediate onset urticaria).
- Avoid testing: Patients with severe cutaneous reactions to beta-lactams (examples: DRESS, Stevens-Johnson syndrome).
- Single-step or 2-step challenge (10% of therapeutic dose then remaining dose after 30-60 minutes), with 60-minute observation.
Latest Tools for Practice
#378 Tony Romo-sozumab: Winning touchdown in osteoporosis or interception for the loss?
What is the efficacy and safety of romosozumab in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis?
#377 How to slow the flow IV: Combined oral contraceptives
In premenopausal heavy menstrual bleeding due to benign etiology, do combined oral contraceptives (COC) improve patient outcomes?
#376 Testosterone supplementation for cis-gender men: Let’s (andro-)pause for a moment (Update)
What are the benefits and harms of testosterone supplementation in healthy cis-gender men or those with age-related low testosterone?
Wow, new life for penicillin in a previously allergic person,
WIll have to dispell “fear” in patients about their “allergy”
This makes sense and can allow most patients previously labelled as allergic to penicillin to use it.