Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology (Jan 2024)

Documented penicillin allergy and beta-lactam antibiotic use in Massachusetts long-term care facilities: opportunities for penicillin allergy delabeling

  • Kap Sum Foong,
  • Shira Doron,
  • Leslie Fowle,
  • Melissa Cumming,
  • Jessica Leaf,
  • Barbara Bolstorff,
  • Christina Brandeburg,
  • Ye Chen,
  • Alysse Wurcel

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1017/ash.2024.434
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 4

Abstract

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In a cross-sectional study of 20 Massachusetts long-term care (LTC) facilities, 19% (n = 449) of residents received antibiotics, with approximately one-third having a documented penicillin allergy. This documented allergy decreased the likelihood of prescribing beta-lactam antibiotics for infections. Improved penicillin allergy assessments and delabeling could optimize antibiotic prescribing in LTC settings.