Penicillin Allergy Testing and Treatment

The Facts:

Up to 90% of patients who think they are allergic to penicillin are not really allergic when assessed by skin testing. This means that almost 9 out of 10 patients who believe they have an allergy to penicillin aren't really allergic and can safely take penicillin and related antibiotics.

Inquire about testing if:

· It has been more than 5 years since your last reaction to penicillin

· You grew up thinking you were penicillin allergic

· You have a history of a reaction to penicillin antibiotics

How could I NOT be allergic?

Over-reporting of penicillin allergy happens for many reasons, the most common are:

· Symptom Confusion- A rash originally thought to be caused by penicillin may have been caused by the illness for which you were being treated.

· Immune System Changes- Many patients outgrow allergies as their immune system matures, so even if you were truly allergic then, you may not be allergic now.

Penicillin

Penicillin is a safe, effective antibiotic that has fewer side effects than many stronger alternatives. More aggressive antibiotics often cost more than penicillin and related drugs. In fact, penicillin-allergic patients can pay as much as 60% more for treatment than those without a penicillin allergy. Penicillin is the preferred treatment for many infections. Being treated with penicillin can provide a more specific treatment with fewer side effects. Using stronger antibiotics can increase the development of antibiotic resistance and can make it harder for your body to fight infections, which means newer antibiotics may not work if you need them for a more serious illness in the future.

When should I get tested?

Get tested now, BEFORE you get sick or need to be hospitalized for any reason. Although you can be tested at any time, having access to penicillin antibiotics can make any visit to the hospital or urgent care less expensive. Many penicillin-allergic patients are automatically offered alternative antibiotics that are more costly. Penicillin allergy testing is simple, safe and reliable, and only takes about 2 hours.

How the test works

The test is performed in three parts:

· Prick Puncture Testing: Our staff will apply skin tests to your arm that will indicate if a true penicillin allergy exists. If you receive a positive result, the test will be stopped at this stage. However, you are more likely to have a negative result. This takes approximately 20 minutes.

· Intradermal Testing: If prick puncture is negative, our staff will conduct intradermal testing. This consists of a few small injections under the skin’s surface. This takes about 20 minutes.

· Oral Challenge: If the above two tests are negative, the next step is an oral challenge of penicillin to confirm a negative result. This is given in a test dose; you will be observed for 45-60 minutes after injection.

If you have any of the following conditions or reactions you are not an ideal candidate for in-office testing

· Stevens-Johnson syndrome

· Toxic epidermal necrolysis

· History of anaphylaxis when given penicillin antibiotics