One-week oral challenge with penicillin in diagnosis of penicillin allergy

Acta Derm Venereol. 2012 May;92(3):307-12. doi: 10.2340/00015555-1254.

Abstract

Many patients experience reactions during penicillin treatment. The diagnosis may be difficult and is mainly based on short-term tests. The European Network for Drug Allergy (ENDA) guidelines proposed for diagnosing penicillin allergy do not include long-term challenge. In this study a total of 405 patients were evaluated. The ENDA guidelines were extended, to include a 7-day oral treatment (p.o.7) with penicillin for all patients who were negative in the ENDA programme. Among the 405 patients; 85 had an immediate reaction to penicillin, and a further 13 reacted during p.o.7. Among the 307 patients with a negative outcome, 88 had a case history of reaction to other β-lactam antibiotics and were subsequently tested with the culprit drug. Thirteen patients had a positive outcome: 3 on single-dose challenge and 10 during p.o.7. The extended penicillin diagnostic work-up was positive in 111 patients, 30.0% showed immediate reactions and 5.7% reacted during p.o.7. Approximately 20% of all patients with positive outcome during penicillin challenge are detected by adding p.o.7 with penicillin to the original ENDA guidelines.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Angioedema / chemically induced
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / adverse effects
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / immunology*
  • Drug Eruptions / diagnosis*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity, Delayed / chemically induced
  • Hypersensitivity, Delayed / diagnosis*
  • Hypersensitivity, Immediate / chemically induced
  • Hypersensitivity, Immediate / diagnosis*
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • Immunologic Tests / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Penicillins / administration & dosage
  • Penicillins / adverse effects
  • Penicillins / immunology*
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Time Factors
  • Young Adult
  • beta-Lactams / administration & dosage
  • beta-Lactams / adverse effects
  • beta-Lactams / immunology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Penicillins
  • beta-Lactams
  • Immunoglobulin E