title: Perioperative anaphylaxis to cefazolin.
abstract: The incidence of generalized reactions during anesthesia has been reported to range from 1 in 5000 to 1 in 25,000 cases with a mortality rate of up to 6%. The most common causes are neuromuscular blocking agents, latex, and antibiotics. Identification of the offending agent may be difficult because multiple medications are administered over a short period. Furthermore, up to 40% of all generalized reactions during anesthesia are non-immunoglobulin E mediated and therefore can not be evaluated by skin testing. We report a case of perioperative anaphylaxis to cefazolin. Sensitization to cefazolin was determined through skin testing, and the patient underwent successful surgery subsequently with the avoidance of cefazolin.
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Immunology, and Allergy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Chyh-Woei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Mariana C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Castells
mesh_terms: D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002437:Cefazolin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019990:Perioperative Care; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002437:Cefazolin