Allergy & immunology
Penicillin Allergy
Many patients are diagnosed with a penicillin allergy in childhood because they may have experienced a rash at the time they were taking penicillin. However, a viral infection may be the cause of a rash, rather than a drug reaction. Even in those with a true allergy, 50% will lose this tendency in a five-year period.
Penicillins are the safest and most effective antibiotics for many infections, and therefore it is important to find out if you or your child are truly allergic to penicillin. If you have a history of a possible penicillin allergy, an allergist can review your drug allergy history complete testing.
Call: 920-623-1200
Penicillin Allergy Testing at Prairie Ridge Health
Penicillin allergy testing can be done at Prairie Ridge Health – Columbus and Sun Prairie clinics. Correctly identifying whether you have an allergy can improve antibiotic prescribing and help combat superbugs by ensuring patients receive safer, less toxic antibiotics for infections.
Penicillin FAQs
What is penicillin?
Penicillins are common, widely used antibiotics that have an important role in treating bacterial infections. 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 (penicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, methicillin) that are given by mouth or injection for the treatment of many bacterial infections.
How is penicillin used?
Penicillin works by inhibiting the growth of bacteria. It is commonly used to treat infections such as strep throat, ear infections, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and dental infections.
Am I really allergic to Pencillin?
Many patients who believe they are allergic to penicillin may not actually be allergic. Penicillin allergy testing can help determine if it is safe for you or your child to take penicillin and related antibiotics. Here’s why getting tested is important:
- Penicillin drugs are often the best treatment for bacterial infections. Avoiding them unnecessarily can lead to the use of less effective, or more expensive alternatives. Side effects. Alternative antibiotics may have more side effects or contribute to antibiotic resistance. Patients labeled as penicillin allergic are 3 times as likely to experience adverse events.
- More treatment options. If you are not truly allergic, your doctor can use the penicillin class of antibiotics, offering improved treatment options.
- If you have a history of a possible penicillin allergy, an allergist can review your drug allergy history complete testing. In the U.S. 10% of patients report a past penicillin reaction, but 9 out of 10 are not truly allergic when evaluated.
Correctly identifying whether you have a penicillin allergy can improve antibiotic prescribing and help combat antibiotic-resistant superbugs by ensuring patients receive safer, less toxic antibiotics for infections.
What are antibiotic-resistant suberbugs?
Antibiotic-resistant superbugs are bacteria that have evolved to withstand effects of antibiotics. This makes infections harder—sometimes impossible—to treat. Antibiotic resistance can lead to longer illnesses, more severe infections, increased medical costs, and death. Common infections like pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and bloodstream infections are becoming harder to treat. Without effective antibiotics, routine surgeries and medical treatments become riskier.
Penicillin allergy testing at Prairie Ridge Health
Penicillin allergy testing today can be done at Prairie Ridge Health. Correctly identifying whether you have an allergy can improve antibiotic prescribing and help combat superbugs by ensuring patients receive safer, less toxic antibiotics for infections.
Who can evaluate my penicillin allergy diagnosis?
A penicillin allergy can be evaluated by an allergist/immunologist, who will review your or your child’s history and perform testing to determine if you are no longer allergic.
What does the testing involve?
Allergy skin testing is typically performed on your forearm. This testing takes about 30 minutes. If testing is negative, you will then undergo an oral test to rule out the allergy. This oral test takes about an hour. If testing is negative, we will remove the penicillin allergy from your allergy list and you can used the penicillin family of antibiotics in the future as needed.
What if I have a positive reaction to a penicillin test?
If testing is positive, this indicates that you still have a penicillin allergy. In this case, you will be advised on alternative classes of antibiotics that can be use.
If you have a history of a possible penicillin allergy, an allergist at Prairie Ridge Health can review your drug allergy history and complete testing. Call us at 920-623-1200 to schedule an appointment, or fill out the form below.
