Publication
Title
Patient and prescriber views of penicillin allergy testing and subsequent antibiotic use : a rapid review
Author
Abstract
About 10% of U.K. patients believe that they are allergic to penicillin and have a penicillin allergy label in their primary care health record. However, around 90% of these patients may be mislabelled. Removing incorrect penicillin allergy labels can help to reduce unnecessary broad-spectrum antibiotic use. A rapid review was undertaken of papers exploring patient and/or clinician views and experiences of penicillin allergy testing (PAT) services and the influences on antibiotic prescribing behaviour in the context of penicillin allergy. We reviewed English-language publications published up to November 2017. Limited evidence on patients' experiences of PAT highlighted advantages to testing as well as a number of concerns. Clinicians reported uncertainty about referral criteria for PAT. Following PAT and a negative result, a number of clinicians and patients remained reluctant to prescribe and consume penicillins. This appeared to reflect a lack of confidence in the test result and fear of subsequent reactions to penicillins. The findings suggest lack of awareness and knowledge of PAT services by both clinicians and patients. In order to ensure correct penicillin allergy diagnosis, clinicians and patients need to be supported to use PAT services and equipped with the skills to use penicillins appropriately following a negative allergy test result.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Antibiotics
Publication
Basel : Mdpi , 2018
ISSN
2079-6382
DOI
10.3390/ANTIBIOTICS7030071
Volume/pages
7 :3 (2018) , 11 p.
ISI
000457061900021
Pubmed ID
30082596
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 01.03.2019
Last edited 02.10.2024
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