Penicillin Drug Allergy — Reactions Not Consistent with Penicillin Allergy — Clinical Pathway: Inpatient, Outpatient Specialty Care, Primary Care

Penicillin Drug Allergy Clinical Pathway — All Settings

Reactions Not Consistent with Penicillin Allergy

De-label if the patient’s history consists of the following:

History Description
  • GI Symptoms
    • Vomiting, diarrhea
  • No other systemic symptoms
  • Vomiting or diarrhea without other symptoms is generally a side effect of the medication rather than an allergic reaction.
  • Penicillins as a class based on these symptoms alone may be used.
  • Family history of PCN allergy
  • This alone does not confer a significant increased risk of anaphylaxis or other reactions to penicillins.
  • Patient has tolerated drug since initial reaction
  • If a patient has tolerated a course of penicillin since the reported reaction, it means that s/he has outgrown the allergy (or the reaction was not allergic in nature).