ASCIA Penicillin Allergy Guide for health professionals
ASCIA Penicillin Allergy Guide for health professionals104.55 KB
- In severe penicillin allergy (e.g. anaphylaxis, bronchospasm, urticaria, angioedema), avoid ALL penicillins, cephalosporins and other beta-lactam antibiotics
- In non-severe penicillin allergy (e.g. mild rash) use cephalosporins and carbapenems with caution
- Some reactions (e.g. nausea) are not considered allergies and do not warrant prohibiting penicillin use
- Record allergy alert in the patient health record allergy section
- Record details of allergy incident including drug name, description of reaction, severity, date, and name of the person making the report
- In hospitals contact ward pharmacist, infectious diseases or immunology consultant for any concerns/queries
- Immunology consultation for formal testing and/or desensitisation may be indicated
© 2016 ASCIA ASCIA is the peak professional body of clinical immunology and allergy specialists in Australia and New Zealand
Adapted by ASCIA with permission from Pharmacy Department, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide SA
Endorsed by SA Expert Group on Antimicrobial Resistance, Immunology Departments - RAH, WCH and SA Pathology
Acknowledgement: Counties Manukau District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand
Content updated November 2016
