Cited by 614Drug-Induced Adverse ReactionsPharmacovigilance and Adverse Drug ReactionsFood Allergy and Anaphylaxis Research

Antibiotic allergy.

Open access
Blumenthal, Kimberly G, Peter, Jonny G, Trubiano, Jason A, Phillips, Elizabeth J·2019·The Lancet

Abstract

Antibiotics are the commonest cause of life-threatening immune-mediated drug reactions that are considered off-target, including anaphylaxis, and organ-specific and severe cutaneous adverse reactions. However, many antibiotic reactions documented as allergies were unknown or not remembered by the patient, cutaneous reactions unrelated to drug hypersensitivity, drug-infection interactions, or drug intolerances. Although such reactions pose negligible risk to patients, they currently represent a global threat to public health. Antibiotic allergy labels result in displacement of first-line therapies for antibiotic prophylaxis and treatment. A penicillin allergy label, in particular, is associated with increased use of broad-spectrum and non-β-lactam antibiotics, which results in increased adverse events and antibiotic resistance. Most patients labelled as allergic to penicillins are not allergic when appropriately stratified for risk, tested, and re-challenged. Given the public health importance of penicillin allergy, this Review provides a global update on antibiotic allergy epidemiology, classification, mechanisms, and management.

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Crossref · 10.1016/s0140-6736(18)32218-9

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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 [656]

    The Epidemiology > β-Lactam antibiotics section reports that 5–15% of patients in developed countries carry a penicillin allergy label, which is consistent with an approximate 10% figure but does not establish it specifically for the U.S. population. Epidemiology > Special patient groups says labels are more common among inpatients and patients linked to ongoing ambulatory care than among single-visit outpatients; it does not address residents of health care–related facilities. Page numbers were not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [88]O’Neill J. Antimicrobial resistance: tackling a crisis for the health and wealth of nations. 2014 https://amr-review.org/sites/default/files/AMR%20Review%20Paper%20-%20Tackling%20a%20crisis%20for%20the%20health%20and%20wealth%20of%20nations_1.pdf (accessed Nov 21, 2018).

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Authors
Blumenthal, K. G., Peter, J. G., Trubiano, J. A., & Phillips, E. J.
Affiliations
  • Harvard University (US)
  • University of Cape Town (ZA)
  • The University of Melbourne (AU)
  • Murdoch University (AU)
Corresponding author
Phillips, Elizabeth J
Venue
The Lancet
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2019-01
Volume
393
Issue
10167
Pages
183-198
ISSN
  • 0099-5355 (ISSN-L)
  • 0140-6736
OpenAlex
W4211095142
Cited by
614
References
134
Citations by year
2026: 69 · 2025: 90 · 2024: 103 · 2023: 94 · 2022: 86 · 2021: 72 · 2020: 65 · 2019: 32
FWCI
4.93
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Lancet (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Murdoch University Research Portal (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health, USA (K43 TW011178-01)
  • National Institute of Health, USA (1P50GM115305–01, 1P30AI110527–01A1, R21AI139021, and R34AI136815)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Drug-Induced Adverse Reactions
  • Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Toxicology › Pharmacovigilance and Adverse Drug Reactions
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Immunology and Allergy › Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Research
Keywords
antibiotic allergy, drug hypersensitivity, penicillin allergy, anaphylaxis, severe cutaneous adverse reactions, antibiotic prophylaxis, antibiotic resistance, drug rechallenge, allergy testing, immune-mediated drug reactions
MeSH terms
Anaphylaxis, Anti-Bacterial Agents, beta-Lactamases, Cross Infection, Drug Hypersensitivity, Drug Resistance, Microbial, Female, Humans, Male, Penicillins, Risk Factors, Global Health

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