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Cited by 313Drug-Induced Adverse ReactionsPharmacovigilance and Adverse Drug ReactionsAntibiotic Use and Resistance

Self-reported antibiotic allergy incidence and prevalence: age and sex effects.

Macy, Eric, Poon K-Y, T.·2009·The American Journal of Medicine
DOI 10.1016/j.amjmed.2009.01.034
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Abstract

Background Data on the prevalence and incidence of adverse reactions to antibiotics in outpatient populations are rare. These events are commonly called "allergy" when noted in the medical record.Objectives Determine the prevalence and incidence of allergy, as recorded in the medical record, to the most commonly used antibiotic classes in a large outpatient population using health care in the United States during 2007.Methods Data for drug allergy and antibiotic use were extracted from the electronic health records of 411,543 patients cared for by Kaiser Permanente in San Diego County who had at least one outpatient visit during 2007. Outpatient antibiotic utilization data was obtained for each year between 1995 and 2007. Penicillins, sulfas, cephalosporins, tetracyclines, macrolides, and quinolones were the classes of antibiotics evaluated.Results Antibiotics account for a majority of drug allergy entries. Antibiotic classes with higher historical use have higher allergy prevalence. Female patients use more antibiotics than males, and have higher allergy prevalence rates for all classes of antibiotics. There is a steady increase in antibiotic allergy prevalence with aging for both sexes. Females have higher allergy incidence rates for all classes of antibiotics. Antibiotic allergy incidence in female patients is highest for sulfas, 3.4%, compared with 1%-1.5% for all other classes of antibiotics. Antibiotic allergy incidence in males also is highest for sulfas, 2.2%, compared with 1.1% for penicillins and 0.5%-0.6% for all other classes of antibiotics.Conclusions Female sex, use, and increasing age are the primary factors that account for higher antibiotic allergy prevalence. Antibiotic allergy incidence is highest with sulfa class antibiotics.

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  • Prevalence of reported allergy to penicillin is approximately 10% among the U.S. population and higher among hospital inpatients and residents in health care-related facilities.

    “Prevalence of reported allergy to penicillin is approximately 10% among the U.S. population and higher among hospital inpatients and residents in health care–related facilities (655–658).”

    From Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021 (2021) · cites this paper as [657]

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Authors
Macy, E., & Poon K-Y, T.
Affiliations
Kaiser Permanente (US)
Corresponding author
Macy, Eric
ORCID
Macy, Eric
Venue
The American Journal of Medicine
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2009-08
Volume
122
Issue
8
Pages
778.e1-778.e7
ISSN
0002-9343 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.amjmed.2009.01.034
OpenAlex
W2026427547
Cited by
313
References
32
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 32 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 29 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 7
FWCI
6.23
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • The American Journal of Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Drug-Induced Adverse Reactions
  • Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Toxicology › Pharmacovigilance and Adverse Drug Reactions
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology › Antibiotic Use and Resistance
Keywords
antibiotic allergy, sex differences, age effects, sulfonamides, penicillin, cephalosporins, tetracycline, macrolides, quinolones, outpatient antibiotic use, electronic health records
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Anti-Bacterial Agents, California, Child, Child, Preschool, Drug Hypersensitivity, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Middle Aged, Incidence, Prevalence, Young Adult

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