Optimizing a Hospital Anaphylaxis Protocol: Our Experience

Abstract

Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening, systemic hypersensitivity reaction that usually occurs rapidly after contact with an allergy-inducing substance. Due to the underdiagnosing, underreporting and malpractice associated with this condition, anaphylaxis awareness projects are now becoming a priority in some communities. The diagnosis of anaphylaxis is clinical, and intramuscular adrenaline is well known as the first-line treatment of choice for its management. The majority of anaphylaxis deaths occur in a hospital. Therefore, it is important to render hospitals safe places for severe allergic reactions. A hospital anaphylaxis protocol is also mandatory for a better outcome as recommended by guidelines. Consequently, our protocol was planned with the contribution of different specialties, including allergy, emergency medicine, nursing, nutrition and pharmacy. General knowledge was tested among different departments by self-administered questionnaires, and specific education programs were utilized to improve the success of the protocol. The least correctly answered questions were about the rapidity of the occurrence of anaphylaxis, the route of adrenaline administration and the method of adrenaline auto injector (AAI) administration. However, after education, the level of knowledge increased dramatically among caregivers. We propose that conducting regular education programs for healthcare workers and that implementing appropriate hospital anaphylaxis protocols prepared with multidisciplinary collaborations should be mandatory for the prevention, recognition and treatment of severe allergic reactions.