The current practice of skin testing for antibiotics in Korean hospitals.
OBJECTIVE
Antibiotic skin testing is a useful procedure for identifying patients with IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to antibiotics. The procedures, however, have not been standardized, and the testing is performed with diverse protocols in Korean hospitals wards. Thus, we examined the current practice of antibiotic skin testing in Korea.


METHODS
We sent questionnaires to 12 allergists working in secondary or tertiary referral hospitals and collected them by e-mail or fax. The questionnaire included items such as the types and concentrations of the tested antibiotics, the methods of antibiotic skin testing, and the interpretation of the results.


RESULTS
All hospitals responded to the questionnaire. The antibiotic skin testing protocols were variable, inconsistent, and differed with regard to the type and concentrations of antibiotics, the volume injected, and the interpretation of the results. Moreover, the protocols differed from the commonly recommended procedures in the medical literature.


CONCLUSIONS
Standardized guidelines for antibiotic skin testing are needed for the safe and effective use of antibiotics in Korea.
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
So Hee
SH
Lee
Heung Woo
HW
Park
Sae Hoon
SH
Kim
Yoon Seok
YS
Chang
Sun Sin
SS
Kim
Sang Heon
SH
Cho
Kyung Up
KU
Min
You Young
YY
Kim
D000486:Allergy and Immunology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents