Effect of Reported Antibiotic Allergies on Drug Selection

Patient self-reporting of antibiotic allergies is frequently inaccurate, and incomplete documentation in the medical record is common. How often do such reports of allergy alter drug selection? To find out, researchers performed a retrospective chart review involving 300 consecutive patients at an Ohio medical center who had at least one antibiotic allergy documented in the medical record and had received an antibiotic during hospitalization.

A total of 416 antibiotic allergies were documented in the medical record; descriptions of the allergic reactions were provided for only 151 (36%). Prescribed antibiotics differed from the standard of care in 30% of the patients. Deviation from the standard of care because of allergy history was more co…