According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 10% of all US patients report having an allergic reaction to a penicillin class antibiotic in their past.*
Michael D’Netto, M.D., Mayo Clinic Health System allergist at WinnMed in Decorah, says that just 10% of these patients with a reported penicillin allergy have a true allergy. “Thousands of patients at WinnMed alone have a documented allergy to penicillin because of how they reacted to the medication at one point in their past. We know that 10 years after a patient’s reaction to penicillin roughly 80% of patients outgrow their penicillin allergy. Additionally, some reactions are likely misattributed to penicillin, as we know infections themselves are a common cause of hives. As such, many penicillin ‘allergic’ patients could be ‘cleared’ of this allergy, which would allow them to be prescribed penicillin, amoxicillin, and other antibiotics in this class to fight bacterial infections.”
This matters because bacteria can develop a resistance to antibiotics, so having more antibiotic choices as a patient increases the chance of recovery from a bacterial infection. Additionally, some antibiotics are more expensive, so having a penicillin class antibiotic as an option can help patients financially.
Dr. D’Netto offers penicillin allergy testing at WinnMed in Decorah. For an appointment, call 563-382-2911.
*https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/community/pdfs/penicillin-factsheet.pdf
