National Penicillin Allergy Day

National Penicillin Allergy Day is always on September 28 and focuses on showing patients that penicillin allergy evaluation improves care and impacts public health.  

Penicillin was first discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928 and continues to be one of the most important antibiotics today. The penicillin family of antibiotics contains over 15 chemically related drugs (e.g. penicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, methicillin) that are given by mouth or injection for the treatment of many bacterial infections. It is one of the most frequently used classes of antibiotics in the world.
 
More than 90% of patients who have penicillin allergy in their electronic medical record can safely take penicillin after evaluation. Removing the penicillin allergy label can reduce healthcare costs, improve patient outcomes and advance the fight against antimicrobial resistance. Our Penicillin Allergy Center offers valuable resources:
•    Read patient-centered articles providing more information.
•    Watch and listen to videos and podcasts. 
•    View the AAAAI’s Penicillin Allergy Position Statement.
•    And more!
 
Join the Fight for Antibiotic Stewardship
The AAAAI is leading the fight against antimicrobial and antibiotic resistance, and you can help. We invite you to support the Penicillin Allergy Verification and Evaluation Act. The act would add penicillin allergy verification and evaluation to Medicare’s Initial Preventative Physical Exam (IPPE) and Annual Wellness Visit (AWV).
 
We urge you to reach out to your members of congress through our advocacy platform, AAAAI Advocate, to express your support for the Penicillin Allergy Verification and Evaluation Act, and to reach out to your community to share information on the patient and public health benefits of penicillin allergy de-labeling. Together, we can increase awareness for penicillin allergy evaluation and the fight for antibiotic stewardship.

Start Your Journey
Even if you think you are allergic to penicillin, allergies change over time and it is worth discussing your history with your allergist / immunologist who may suggest an evaluation to help clarify your allergy history. Even if your penicillin allergy is confirmed, you can still discuss alternative options if the need for antibiotics arises. Penicillin allergy can be evaluated by an allergist / immunologist, who will obtain a careful history and perform skin testing. You can find an allergist / immunologust  close to you in our directory. 
 

9/10/2026