Penicillin Allergy De‐Labeling in Older Adults and Long‐Term Care Residents: A Clinical Review.

Background: Penicillin allergy labels are common in older adults and long‐term care (LTC) residents, contributing to inappropriate antibiotic use, adverse outcomes, and increased healthcare costs. This review examines the prevalence, impact, safety, and barriers to penicillin allergy evaluation and...

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Publicado en:Journal of the American Geriatrics Society Vol. 73; no. 10; pp. 3234 - 3245
Autores principales: Shah, Ruchi J., Smith, Liam R., Norton, Dylan T., Eippert, Madelyn L., Borzecki, Ann M., Blumenthal, Kimberly G.
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Wiley-Blackwell Oct2025
Materias:
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Oct2025
      vid: 73
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      pub: Wiley-Blackwell
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        10.1111/jgs.19619
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      tig:
        atl: Penicillin Allergy De‐Labeling in Older Adults and Long‐Term Care Residents: A Clinical Review.
      aug:
        au:
          Shah, Ruchi J.
          Smith, Liam R.
          Norton, Dylan T.
          Eippert, Madelyn L.
          Borzecki, Ann M.
          Blumenthal, Kimberly G.
        affil:
          Division of Rheumatology Allergy and Immunology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston Massachusetts,, USA
          Rheumatology and Allergy Clinical Epidemiology Research Center, Mongan Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston Massachusetts,, USA
          Harvard Medical School, Boston Massachusetts,, USA
          Center for Health Optimization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), Bedford Campus, VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford Massachusetts,, USA
          Department of General Internal Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Massachusetts,, USA
          School of Public Health, Department of Health Law, Policy and Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston Massachusetts,, USA
      su:
        Patient safety
        Interprofessional relations
        Medical care costs
        Old age
        Drug allergy
        Antibiotics
        Geriatric nursing
        Cross infection
        Long-term health care
        Antimicrobial stewardship
        Drug resistance in microorganisms
        Immunology
        Oral drug administration
        Treatment effectiveness
        Penicillin
        Drug labeling
        Skin tests
        Drug utilization
      sug:
        subj:
          Patient safety
          Interprofessional relations
          Medical care costs
          Old age
          Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing
          Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing
          Pharmaceuticals and pharmacy supplies merchant wholesalers
          Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers
          Drug allergy
          Antibiotics
          Geriatric nursing
          Cross infection
          Long-term health care
          Antimicrobial stewardship
          Drug resistance in microorganisms
          Immunology
          Oral drug administration
          Treatment effectiveness
          Penicillin
          Drug labeling
          Skin tests
          Drug utilization
      keyword:
        antimicrobial stewardship
        beta‐lactam
        drug challenge
        hypersensitivity
        skin testing
        antimicrobial stewardship
        beta‐lactam
        drug challenge
        hypersensitivity
        skin testing
      ab: Background: Penicillin allergy labels are common in older adults and long‐term care (LTC) residents, contributing to inappropriate antibiotic use, adverse outcomes, and increased healthcare costs. This review examines the prevalence, impact, safety, and barriers to penicillin allergy evaluation and de‐labeling in these populations. Methods: This review synthesizes findings from studies on penicillin allergy prevalence, evaluation, and de‐labeling practices in older adults and LTC settings. Articles were identified using searches in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases. Key data presented include de‐labeling prevalence, safety of testing strategies including direct oral challenges, and barriers to implementation. Results: Older adults and LTC residents exhibit higher penicillin allergy label prevalence than other populations, though true penicillin allergies are confirmed in a minority of tested individuals. Penicillin allergy labels result in reliance on second‐line antibiotics, which can be less effective and more broad‐spectrum, leading to increased multidrug‐resistant infections, healthcare‐associated infections, and higher healthcare costs. Penicillin allergy evaluation using risk stratification and procedures, including direct oral challenges, has been shown to be safe, with minimal adverse reactions in older adults. Many patients with low‐risk histories have been shown to be de‐labeled by history alone, reducing the need for specialized allergy evaluation and testing. Barriers to implementation of de‐labeling in older adults and LTC facilities include resource limitations, knowledge gaps, and safety concerns, whereas facilitators include multidisciplinary support, standardized protocols, and patient engagement. Conclusions: Penicillin allergy evaluation and de‐labeling of inaccurate penicillin allergies in older adults and LTC settings is both feasible and safe, offering substantial benefits for individual patient care and broadly for antibiotic stewardship. Addressing implementation barriers through standardized protocols, provider education, and multidisciplinary collaboration may improve adoption and outcomes.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
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