Introduction
10% of population claims to be allergic to penicillin.
In reality, 1-3% have an IgE-mediated response to penicillin.
Claims of penicillin allergy along with a wave of newer antibiotics (such as fluoroquinolones) have prompted physicians to avoid penicillins no matter how mild the reported reaction - increasing vancomycin and broad-spectrum abx use.
Two large issues seem to hang over modern medicine antimicrobial resistance and cost - leading to recent studies on the issue of penicillin allergy.