Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://ahro.austin.org.au/austinjspui/handle/1/16823
Title: Return to sender: the need to re-address patient antibiotic allergy labels in Australia and New Zealand
Austin Authors: Trubiano, Jason ;Worth, Leon J;Urbancic, Karin;Brown, TM;Paterson, DL;Lucas, M;Phillips, E;Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Network;Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology & Allergy
Affiliation: Infectious Diseases
Department of Infectious Diseases, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Pharmacy
Centre for Clinical Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Department of Clinical Immunology, Pathwest Laboratory Medicine, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, WA, Australia
Institute for Immunology & Infectious Diseases, Murdoch University, WA, Australia
Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt Medical Center, TN, USA
Issue Date: Nov-2016
Publication information: Internal Medicine Journal 2016; 46(11): 1311-1317
Abstract: BACKGROUND/AIM: Antibiotic allergies are frequently reported and have significant impacts upon appropriate prescribing and clinical outcomes. We surveyed infectious diseases physicians, allergists, clinical immunologists and hospital pharmacists to evaluate antibiotic allergy knowledge and service delivery in Australia and New Zealand. METHODS: An online multi-choice questionnaire was developed and endorsed by representatives of the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) and the Australasian Society of Infectious Diseases (ASID). The 37-item survey was distributed in April 2015 to members of ASCIA, ASID, the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. RESULTS: Of 277 respondents, 94% currently use or would utilise antibiotic allergy testing (AAT) and reported seeing up to 10 patients/week labelled as antibiotic-allergic. Forty-two per cent were not aware of or did not have AAT available. Most felt that AAT would aid antibiotic selection, antibiotic appropriateness and antimicrobial stewardship (79, 69 and 61% respectively). Patients with the histories of immediate hypersensitivity were more likely to be referred than those with delayed hypersensitivities (76 vs 41%, Pā€‰=ā€‰0.0001). Lack of specialist physicians (20%) and personal experience (17%) were barriers to service delivery. A multidisciplinary approach was a preferred AAT model (53%). Knowledge gaps were identified, with the majority overestimating rates of penicillin/cephalosporin (78%), penicillin/carbapenem (57%) and penicillin/monobactam (39%) cross-reactivity. CONCLUSIONS: A high burden of antibiotic allergy labelling and demand for AAT is complicated by a relative lack availability or awareness of AAT services in Australia and New Zealand. Antibiotic allergy education and deployment of AAT, accessible to community and hospital-based clinicians, may improve clinical decisions and reduce antibiotic allergy impacts. A collaborative approach involving infectious diseases physicians, pharmacists and allergists/immunologists is required.
URI: https://ahro.austin.org.au/austinjspui/handle/1/16823
DOI: 10.1111/imj.13221
ORCID: 
Journal: Internal Medicine Journal
PubMed URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27527526
Type: Journal Article
Subjects: Adverse drug reaction
Antibiotic allergy
Antibiotic allergy testing
Antimicrobial stewardship
Appears in Collections:Journal articles

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