Millions could be missing out on the most effective antibiotic choice because they mistakenly believe they are allergic to penicillin, prolonging their recovery, increasing the risk of infection and even leading to hospital admission.
This warning comes from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) as it launches a new checklist for pharmacists to help inform conversations with patients about penicillin allergy and diagnose if a patient is allergic to penicillin or not.
Alongside specific guidance for primary care colleagues, the checklist states that on admission to hospital pharmacy professionals should ensure allergy history is reviewed as part of the drug history and medicines reconciliation process.
They should then ensure that records are updated for any patients with a penicillin allergy label that have since successfully received penicillin without an allergic reaction.
Setting up a penicillin allergy de-labelling service or clinic may also be deemed appropriate, and guidance on doing so is available from the British Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the RPS advises.
Mislabelled penicillin allergy
Figures show around 6% of people have a penicillin allergy label on their medical record, equating to four million people in the UK.
But research has shown that around 90% of people do not have an allergy when properly assessed, the RPS has said.
The Society also pointed to research published in 2019 that showed being labelled allergic to penicillin is associated with a higher mortality rate of an extra six deaths per 1,000 patients in the year after treatment.
The researchers had estimated that incorrect penicillin allergy records affect 2.7 million people in England.
Another study in 2018 had patients with a penicillin allergy listed in their notes were more likely to catch superbug infections such as MRSA.
People may believe they are allergic to penicillin for a variety of reasons because they had suffered common side effects of antibiotics such as nausea or diarrhoea but also because symptoms of the infection such as a rash could have been wrongly attributed to the medicine.
Some patients may have had an allergy reported many years ago, perhaps in childhood, but which is no longer an issue, the RPS added. But once on someone’s medical record, the penicillin allergy label can remain for years without being questioned, they added.
Side effects vs allergic reactions
Tase Oputu, chair of the RPS in England, said: ‘Every medicine has benefits and harms and I urge patients to ask questions about a penicillin allergy label on their medical record.
‘Many individuals are at low, or very low risk, of having a genuine penicillin allergy and we often find that after careful investigation that they can take penicillin safely.
‘Others, who may have had a severe reaction in the past, will need allergy testing and in some cases may never be able to take penicillin.’
She added: ‘Patients should talk to their pharmacist or other health professional to help understand the difference between side effects and allergic reactions, which can sometimes look similar, so they receive the most effective treatment for their needs.’
Allergy UK said it was an issue that needed to be examined more closely.
Amena Warner, head of clinical services for Allergy UK, said: ‘Many people have had a label of having a penicillin allergy from early childhood often after having a rash with antibiotics.
‘This label can be carried with them the rest of their lives, without it ever being investigated.
‘There is now a national effort to look into this and the best way to do this. Allergy UK welcomes this issue being explored more closely and will ensure the patient voice and perspective is represented.’
Earlier this year, the PALACE clinical trial found that use of a direct oral penicillin challenge in patients with a low-risk of penicillin allergy was non-inferior to the standard-of-care skin testing.
A version of this article was first published by our sister publication Pulse.
