title: [Assessment of the antibiotic allergy questionnaire in the medical history].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital de Mataró, Carretera de Cirera s/n, 08304 Mataró, Barcelona, Spain. mdelgadoca@csdm.cat
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delgado Capel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Icart Palau
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ribó Tarré
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sánchez Ulayar
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Martínez-Costa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mauri Plana
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Capdevila Morell
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents