Eficiencia del estudio alergológico en el diagnóstico de reacciones a β-lactámicos

Abstract

AimsAssessing the rate of β-lactams-allergic patients who are still labelled as such in their medical records after being performed an allergic test; as well as the rate of no allergic patients who were prescribed one of these antibiotics; and pondering whether the allergic test is hence cost-effective. MethodsThis is a retrospective study developed from 2019 to 2021 focusing on patients suspected of β-lactams allergy (n=688). By means of an allergy test, it was cleared out if they were actually allergic. Later, we checked if the patient was still labelled as allergic in their medical record. Tracking through the digital health services card, we followed up if the antibiotic was ever prescribed again, and if the drug was then dispensed to the patient. Results11.3% of the patients showed hypersensitivity to β-lactams. Nonetheless, 33.1% of the patients were still considered allergic to these antibiotics in their medical record even though not being such. 32% of the patients – who had their allergy confirmed – had been labelled without the general practitioner's acknowledgment, and 32.8% had even been prescribed a β-lactam again. ConclusionsDiscarding any allergy to β-lactams is as important as registering the allergy on medical records after testing the patient. A remarkable quantity of non-allergic patients is still addressed as actual allergic, in spite not being such. Labelling patients as β-lactams allergic may have consequences, short-term and long-term, for the patient but also for the health service budget.