Maintaining penicillin allergy delabeling: A quality improvement initiative

Abstract

Penicillin skin testing and drug challenge is effective in removing penicillin allergy labels. However, studies show that penicillin allergy labels persist in 9% to 51% of patients after negative testing.1-6 Penicillin allergy testing, with or without challenge, therefore, does not lead to adequate removal of allergy labels or use of beta-lactam antibiotics. This is often due to charting errors or limited understanding of testing implications on the patients' or primary providers' parts.2-4,7 Interventions such as effective counseling and postdischarge communication can improve adherence to recommendations.