A EAACI Drug Allergy Interest Group survey on how European allergy specialists deal with β‐lactam allergy

Abstract

An accurate diagnosis of β‐lactam (BL) allergy can reduce patient morbidity and mortality. Our aim is to investigate the availability of BL reagents, their use, and test procedures in different parts of Europe, as well as any differences in the diagnostic workups for evaluating subjects with BL hypersensitivity. A survey was emailed to all members of the EAACI Drug Allergy Interest Group (DAIG) between February‐April 2016, the questionnaire was meant to study the management of suspected BL hypersensitivity.The questionnaire was emailed to 82 DAIG centres and answered by 57. Amoxicillin alone or combined to clavulanic acid the most commonly involved BL except in the Danish centre, where penicillin V was the most frequently suspected BL. All centres performed an allergy workup in subjects with histories of hypersensitivity to BL; 53 centres (93%) followed DAIG guidelines, 2 national guidelines, and 2 local guidelines. However, there were deviations from DAIG recommendations concerning allergy tests, especially drug provocation tests. A significant heterogeneity exists in current practice not only among countries, but also among centres within the same country. This suggests the need to re‐evaluate, update, and standardise protocols on the management of patients with suspected BL allergy.

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