title: Antibiotic hypersensitivity reactions and approaches to desensitization.
abstract: Before initiating antibiotic therapy, drug hypersensitivity is an important consideration, and a common strategy is to avoid giving patients medications when a high likelihood of severe reactions exists. With an increase in antibiotic resistance and a decrease in novel antibiotics, there is greater pressure to consider antibiotics in patients with a history of adverse reactions. The major concerns include IgE-mediated, or type I, reactions, anaphylaxis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and toxic epidermal necrolysis. Some antibiotics with similar characteristics, such as cephalosporins and penicillins, may be given safely to patients with a certain allergy profile. There is still greater concern when considering antibiotics for patients with reported allergy. Desensitization is a strategy to safely induce drug tolerance to a specific drug to limit the possibility of a type I reaction.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Division, Health Management Associates, Woodstock, Georgia.
authors.forename: Davey P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Legendre
authors.forename: Christina A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Muzny
authors.forename: Gailen D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Swiatlo
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: desensitization; drug allergy; hypersensitivity; vancomycin; β-lactam