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Clinical Outcome in the Use of Cephalosporins in Pediatric Patients with a History of Penicillin Allergy
International Archives of Allergy and Immunology, 04/06/2012
Clinical Article
Ahmed KA et al. – Among all patients with a history of penicillin allergy (penicillin skin test positive and negative), only 1 person had an adverse drug reaction. Further large prospective studies examining the safety of administering cephalosporins in pediatric patients with confirmed penicillin allergy are needed.
Methods- A retrospective chart review was conducted in pediatric patients (≤18years) with a history of penicillin allergy and a positive or negative penicillin skin test who were administered a cephalosporin after testing.
- Charts were reviewed for adverse drug reactions to the cephalosporin.
- A total of 173 patients (91 males) were included in this study.
- The mean age of the patients was 4.1±3.1years.
- Twenty-one patients (12%) tested positive in a penicillin skin test and 152 patients (88%) tested negative.
- One patient with a negative penicillin skin test (0.7%) had an adverse drug reaction (eye swelling) to cephalexin.
- None of the patients with a positive penicillin skin test who received a course of cephalosporin had an adverse drug reaction.