[Assessment of the antibiotic allergy questionnaire in the medical history].
OBJECTIVE
Antibiotic allergy questionnaire is a useful tool for prescribing antibiotics. The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence and clinical reliability of antibiotic allergy in medical records.


METHODS
Observational analysis of clinical records. Assessment of antibiotic allergy by direct interview conducted by the investigator.


RESULTS
610 medical records were evaluated. Antibiotic allergy was checked in 98%, mainly in medical wards. In 12 % of patients, antibiotic allergy was suspected, but after investigator interview only 5% of patients fulfilled clinical criteria for allergy. 44% of falses allergies were recorded. The most frequent cause of confusion was faint and gastric intolerance.


CONCLUSIONS
The questionnaire about antibiotic allergy is present in almost all medical records. However its reliability is low, less than 50%. Prevalence of veritable antibiotic allergy is 5% in this study. Antibiotic allergy questionnaire in medical records is a practical tool. However periodical training about antibiotic allergy definition is necessary for nurses and medical staff.
Delgado Capel
M
M
Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital de Mataró, Carretera de Cirera s/n, 08304 Mataró, Barcelona, Spain. mdelgadoca@csdm.cat
Icart Palau
R
R
Ribó Tarré
L
L
Sánchez Ulayar
A
A
Martínez-Costa
X
X
Mauri Plana
M
M
Capdevila Morell
J A
JA
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents