Allergen vial mixing and immunotherapy: Risks of infections and vial contamination.
OBJECTIVE
To study the risks of vial contamination and infection associated with immunotherapy vial mixing and injection.


METHODS
Retrospective review of patient immunotherapy records from January 2000-June 2006.


METHODS
Tertiary care outpatient otolaryngology clinic.


RESULTS
Two hundred seventy-two patients were given 26,795 injections (average of 98.5 injections per patient). Three hundred ninety-nine total local reactions were reported by the subjects (1.49%; 95% CI 1.34%-1.63%). The majority (82%) of the local reactions occurred during escalation dosing. There were 23 episodes of wheezing or shortness of breath after injections (9.6 of 10,000). No patients experienced anaphylaxis. There was no documented skin or systemic infections as a result of the allergy injections. None of the patients experienced fever, discharge from the injection site, cellulitis, or required antibiotics.


CONCLUSIONS
This review of immunotherapy records revealed no complications of infection from the preparation and administration of immunotherapy performed in an outpatient clinic.
Lay
P Chase
PC
Department of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA.
Bass
Richard
R
Lin
Sandra Y
SY
D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D015142:Baltimore / Q000453:epidemiology; D004340:Drug Contamination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D007239:Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
D000485:Allergens