Cephalosporins can be given to penicillin-allergic patients who do not exhibit an anaphylactic response

Cephalosporins can be given to penicillin-allergic patients who do not exhibit an anaphylactic response

To assess the risk of intraoperative allergic reactions to cephalosporins in patients who claim to be allergic to penicillin. Retrospective chart review. University-affiliated hospital. 2,933 intraoperative anesthesia records of all adult orthopedic patients treated at our institution during a 14-mo...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of clinical anesthesia Vol. 13; no. 8; pp. 561 - 564
Main Authors: GOODMAN, Evan J, MORGAN, Michelle J, JOHNSON, Pat A, NICHOLS, Brenda A, DENK, Nevia, GOLD, Bianca B
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: New York, NY Elsevier Science 01-12-2001
Subjects:
Anaphylaxis - chemically induced
Antibiotic Prophylaxis - adverse effects
Biological and medical sciences
Cephalosporins - administration & dosage
Cephalosporins - adverse effects
Cross Reactions
Drug Hypersensitivity - diagnosis
Drug Hypersensitivity - etiology
Drug toxicity and drugs side effects treatment
Female
Humans
Intraoperative Complications - etiology
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Miscellaneous (drug allergy, mutagens, teratogens...)
Orthopedic Procedures
Penicillins - adverse effects
Penicillins - immunology
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Retrospective Studies
Human
Immunopathology
Allergy
Toxicity
β-Lactams
Intraoperative
Penicillin derivatives
Antibiotic
Cephalosporin derivatives
Orthopedic surgery
Penicillin
Cross reaction
Complication
Antibacterial agent
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:To assess the risk of intraoperative allergic reactions to cephalosporins in patients who claim to be allergic to penicillin. Retrospective chart review. University-affiliated hospital. 2,933 intraoperative anesthesia records of all adult orthopedic patients treated at our institution during a 14-month period (7/96-8/97) were reviewed for antibiotic use and allergic reactions. Most of the 2,933 orthopedic patients, including 413 patients who were allergic to penicillin, received a cephalosporin (usually cefazolin) during their procedure. Only one of the penicillin-allergic patients may have had an allergic reaction to the cephalosporin, because diphenhydramine and hydrocortisone were given at the beginning of the case. However, no mention was made on the chart about itching or a rash or hives. One of the non-penicillin-allergic patients did develop a rash while the cephalosporin was infusing, requiring discontinuation of the antibiotic. Given the low incidence of allergic reactions, it appears to be safe to administer cephalosporins to patients who claim to be allergic to penicillin. However, no conclusion can be made concerning patients who report severe or anaphylactic reactions to penicillin, because these patients probably were excluded from the study.
ISSN:0952-8180
1873-4529
DOI:10.1016/S0952-8180(01)00329-4