Recommendations on how to proceed in case of suspected allergy to penicillin/β-lactam antibiotics: Position paper of the German Society for Allergology and Clinical Immunology (DGAKI) in cooperation with the German Society for Pediatric Allergology (GPA), Austrian Society for Allergology and Immunology (ÖGAI) and the Swiss Society for Allergology and Immunology (SGAI).

Abstract

β-lactam antibiotics (BLAs) are still the antibiotics of first choice for the treatment of many bacterial infections. Treatment with a BLA is often hindered by a suspected allergy, up to 10% of the population report an allergy to penicillin. After allergological evaluation of the suspected allergic reaction to a BLA, most patients show a low probability of a BLA allergy; only in a minority of cases an allergic reaction to the repeated administration of a BLA appear likely in view of the previous history. In > 90% of cases, the suspected BLA allergy can be ruled out by allergy diagnostics. We recommend a risk-stratified approach in the context of an urgent need for BLA, which should enable most patients to receive a BLA therapy. After acute therapy, allergy diagnostics have to be done to clearly prove or reliably rule out a BLA allergy.