title: Penicillin allergy: A practical guide for clinicians.
abstract: Penicillin allergy is the most commonly reported drug allergy in the United States. However, after undergoing a complete evaluation by a board-certified allergist, including skin testing, 90% of patients labeled as 'penicillin-allergic' are able to tolerate penicillin. Clinical presentation is key in classifying reactions as either mediated by or not mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE), and in determining which patients may benefit from penicillin skin testing, graded-dose challenge, or desensitization. Cross-reactivity between penicillin and other beta-lactams is less common than previously thought.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Respiratory Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA. E-mail: gonzala5@ccf.org.
authors.forename: Alexei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Estrada
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Respiratory Institute, Cleveland Clinic, USA.
authors.forename: Cristine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Radojicic
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D008487:Medical History Taking; D010406:Penicillins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D057566:Self Report; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010406:Penicillins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E