Spread Awareness About Penicillin Allergy – Over Diagnosed, Easy to Test
September 27, 2024
Contact:
Candace Archie, Communications & Public Relations Manager
carchie@aaaai.org
(414) 272-6071
Prepare for National Penicillin Allergy Awareness Day by Utilizing AAAAI Resources and Sharing Educational Materials
MILWAUKEE - Saturday, September 28 is National Penicillin Allergy Day. About 95% of the people with penicillin allergy listed in their electronic medical records, roughly one out of ten Americans, are not truly allergic, and they are able to safely take penicillin after evaluation. Because penicillin remains the most effective treatment for many infections, patients with an inaccurate penicillin allergy label are not getting the care they need. Removing the penicillin allergy label, called delabeling, can improve patient outcomes, significantly reduce healthcare costs and help fight antimicrobial resistance. As the leading member organization of allergist/immunologists, the AAAAI is committed to serving as a trusted source of information regarding penicillin allergy. Learn more about penicillin allergy delabeling with these valuable resources and materials.
• Penicillin allergy testing is safe for children and adults.
• The recently introduced Penicillin Allergy Verification and Evaluation (PAVE) Act, H.R. 9778, developed in collaboration with the AAAAI and with bipartisan support from members of Congress, would require penicillin allergy verification and evaluation to be included in the “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit and annual wellness visits. Older patients are especially vulnerable to bacterial infections and adverse events related to alternative antibiotics.
• A systematic review and meta-analysis recently published this month in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Internal Medicine confirmed the safety of direct penicillin challenges across clinical settings. Read the full article, led by first author Kimberly G. Blumenthal, MD, MSc, FAAAAI, here.
• Read the AAAAI’s Penicillin Allergy Position Statement supporting widespread and routine penicillin allergy evaluations and visit aaaai.org to learn more about penicillin allergy and the importance of delabeling.
• The Penicillin Allergy Center features educational and outreach materials for medical professionals including informative videos, social media graphics, penicillin podcasts, practice resources and more.
• AAAAI experts are available for media requests and interviews to discuss penicillin allergy, the importance of delabeling and its effects on public health. Email media@aaaai.org to request an interview with an AAAAI expert.
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) is the leading membership organization of more than 7,100 allergists, asthma specialists, clinical immunologists and other professionals with a special interest in the research and treatment of allergic and immunologic diseases. Established in 1943, the AAAAI is the go-to resource for patients living with allergies, asthma and immune deficiency disorders.