Amoxicillin-clavulanate prescribed in a patient with known penicillin allergy

Abstract

Introduction. Prescription of penicillin requires extra caution in order to avoid its administration in a person allergic to this antibiotic. We present a case of a patient allergic to penicillin, to whom a doctor prescribed this medicine by mistake. Case outline. An 18-year-old female patient turned to an otolaryngologist because of a sore throat, difficulty in breathing, and light clogging in the left ear during several previous days. The patient tolerated oral intake of only liquid foods. She reported frequent attacks of tonsillopharyngitis, and an allergy to penicillin. Tonsillopharyngitis was established by a physical examination. The doctor prescribed oral therapy, including a penicillin-based antibiotic AugmentinR (amoxicillin + clavulanate potassium) 1000 mg 2 ? 1 tablet for seven days. The pharmacist in the local pharmacy knew the patient and was aware of the fact that the girl was allergic to penicillin, so the patient did not take the prescribed penicillin-based remedy. In this way, an extremely serious professional medical error did not obtain essential features of a criminal act according to the Serbian Criminal Code. Conclusion. When prescribing antibiotics, it is necessary for the physician to be extremely careful not to prescribe a medicine for which there is a cave warning in medical documentation, as this error can become grounds for legal prosecution against the doctor, as well as for professional sanctioning.