Abstract
Penicillin and other beta-lactams are among the most commonly prescribed antibiotic groups. It is also a group with most frequently reported allergic reacions.
The majority od patients are classified as penicillin allergic based on clinical evaluation only without further additional testing. False diagnosis of a penicillin allergy then leads to overuse of alternative, usually broad spectrum antibiotics with a high rate of associated side effects, thus increasing microbial resistence and treatment cost.
Thorough evalution of a suspected beta- -lactam allergy involves detailed patient history and examination, skin tests, laboratory tests and drug provocation tests. Suspected drug hypersensitivity can be safely excluded with detailed evaluation in a large number od cases.
Where suspected beta-lactam allergy is confirmed, alternative antibiotic could be recommended.