title: Impact of Reported Beta-Lactam Allergy on Inpatient Outcomes: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.
abstract: Reported allergy to beta-lactam antibiotics is common and often leads to unnecessary avoidance in patients who could tolerate these antibiotics. We prospectively evaluated the impact of these reported allergies on clinical outcomes.
  
  
  
  We conducted a trainee-led prospective cohort study to determine the burden and clinical impact of reported beta-lactam allergy on patients seen by infectious diseases consultation services at 3 academic hospitals. The primary outcome was a composite measure of readmission for the same infection, acute kidney injury, Clostridium difficile infection, or drug-related adverse reactions requiring discontinuation. Predictors of interest were history of beta-lactam allergy and receipt of preferred beta-lactam therapy.
  
  
  
  Among 507 patients, 95 (19%) reported beta-lactam allergy; preferred therapy was a beta-lactam in 72 (76%). When beta-lactam therapy was preferred, 25 (35%) did not receive preferred therapy due to their report of allergy even though 13 (52%) reported non-severe prior reactions. After adjustment for confounders, patients who did not receive preferred beta-lactam therapy were at greater risk of adverse events (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.28-7.89) compared with those without reported allergy. In contrast, patients who received preferred beta-lactam therapy had a similar risk of adverse events compared with patients not reporting allergy (aOR, 1.33; 95% CI, .62-2.87).
  
  
  
  Avoidance of preferred beta-lactam therapy in patients who report allergy is associated with an increased risk of adverse events. Development of inpatient programs aimed at accurately identifying beta-lactam allergies to safely promote beta-lactam administration among these patients is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine.
authors.forename: Derek R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: MacFadden
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: LaDelfa
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leen
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine.
authors.forename: Wayne L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine.
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Daneman
authors.affiliation: Drug Safety Clinic, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Canada.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Al-Busaidi
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Petrescu
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine.
authors.forename: Ilana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Saltzman
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Devlin
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine.
authors.forename: Nisha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Andany
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine.|Centre for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, University of Toronto.
authors.forename: Jerome A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Leis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000073602:Antimicrobial Stewardship; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D047090:beta-Lactams / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D047090:beta-Lactams
keywords: antimicrobial stewardship; beta-lactam allergy; clinical outcome; penicillin allergy; quality improvement