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According to research, individuals who believe they have an allergy to penicillin can potentially be “de-labelled” without costly allergy tests. This can be done by administering a small amount of the antibiotic to test for any negative responses.
A recent experiment conducted in three hospitals in the UK, with a sample size of 126 individuals, showed that 97% (122) were not susceptible to an allergic reaction from the antibacterial medication they were administered.
The scientists reported in the Journal of Infection that it could be feasible for non-allergy medical staff to administer an oral dose of penicillin to low-risk patients and closely observe them afterwards.
They claimed that this approach would enable individuals who were wrongly identified as having a penicillin allergy to have the label removed in a general healthcare setting, without having to undergo extensive allergy tests at specialized clinics.
A significant issue in public health is the incorrect classification of penicillin allergies.
Dr Siraj Misbah, a consultant immunologist at Oxford University Hospitals and national clinical director for the blood and infection programme at NHS England, stated that incorrect labeling of penicillin allergy is a significant concern for public health. This is because it can lead to restricted access to antibiotics for individuals and has a negative effect on overall public health due to the increase in antimicrobial resistance and the need for proper stewardship.
This study shows that healthcare workers who are not trained in allergies can successfully remove a label of penicillin allergy. It offers a cost-effective approach that can be used by healthcare systems.
Dr. Louise Savic, a consultant anesthesiologist and specialist in drug allergies at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, and one of the main researchers of the study, stated: “This research shows that routinely de-labeling individuals who believe they are allergic to penicillin, outside of a specialized allergy clinic, is a feasible possibility.”
Roughly 6-10% of people in the UK are documented to have an allergy to penicillin, but previous studies have revealed that actual penicillin allergies are uncommon, affecting only about 1% of the population.
The RPS recommended that patients should review their medical records during their next doctor’s visit to make sure they are not incorrectly identified as being allergic to a medication.
According to them, individuals might falsely believe that they have an allergy to penicillin due to various factors, such as experiencing common side effects like nausea or diarrhea from the medication.
During the research, healthcare professionals conducted experiments at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB), Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Participants received an oral administration of amoxicillin, a type of antibiotic known as penicillin. This was overseen by a research nurse or pharmacist and monitored by a non-allergy specialist clinical consultant, who had access to resuscitation resources in case of emergency.
The findings indicated that 97% of participants did not have a penicillin allergy.
Professor Mamidipudi Thirumala Krishna, chairman of Allergy, Clinical Immunology and Global Health at the University of Birmingham, and chief investigator of the study said: “Inaccurate penicillin allergy labels are a huge burden globally.”
He stated, “Labels of penicillin allergy can have negative effects and fuel the growth of antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, providing more patients with the ability to safely use penicillin can lessen the reliance on other antibiotics that are currently being heavily utilized and enhance the quality of healthcare.”
Our study demonstrated that closely monitoring patients while they take penicillin directly, rather than relying on an allergy skin test administered by a specialist, proved successful for low-risk individuals.
This indicates that they will be able to use penicillin without risk in the future.
The study was financially supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).
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This article is from independent.co.uk and is about health and wellness.
