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The impact of a drug allergy label in an internal medicine ward.
- Source :
-
European annals of allergy and clinical immunology [Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol] 2024 Sep; Vol. 56 (5), pp. 227-232. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Mar 28. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Summary: Background. Drug hypersensitivity reactions are presumably immune-mediated reactions that cause reproducible signs and/or symptoms. Overdiagnosis of drug allergy, frequently self-reported, is common and carries significant limitations. We intended to analyze the frequency and impact of drug allergy in hospitalized patients. Methods. A retrospective study was conducted in an Internal Medicine ward at a tertiary hospital in Portugal. All patients with a drug allergy report admitted within a 3-year period were included. Data were collected from their electronic medical records. Results. We found that 15.4% of patients had a report of drug allergy, with antibiotics being the most common (56.4%), followed by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (21.7%) and radiocontrast media (7.0%). The allergy report affected the clinical approach of 14.5% of patients by motivating the use of second-line agents, or the eviction of necessary procedures. The usage of alternative antibiotics entailed a cost increase of 2.4 times. There were 14.7% of patients to whom the suspected drug was administered: 87.0% tolerated and 13.0% developed a reaction. Only 1.9% were referred to our Allergy and Clinical Immunology department and proceeded in their allergy study. Conclusions. In this study, a considerable number of patients had a drug allergy label on their records. This label contributed to an increase in the cost of treatment, or the avoidance of necessary exams. However, disregarding an allergy record may lead to potentially life-threatening reactions that proper risk assessment could avoid. Further investigation should always be part of the follow-up routine of these patients, and better articulation between departments should be encouraged.
- Subjects :
- Humans
Female
Retrospective Studies
Male
Aged
Middle Aged
Portugal epidemiology
Anti-Bacterial Agents adverse effects
Anti-Bacterial Agents immunology
Adult
Aged, 80 and over
Drug Labeling
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal adverse effects
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal immunology
Drug Hypersensitivity diagnosis
Drug Hypersensitivity epidemiology
Internal Medicine
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1764-1489
- Volume :
- 56
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- European annals of allergy and clinical immunology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 36975723
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.23822/EurAnnACI.1764-1489.293