Conclusions

The vast majority of patients who claim to have penicillin allergy do not have an IgE-mediated allergy and are unlikely to have any kind of reaction at all. Previous reactions may have been secondary to infection, other medications, or impurities in older preparations of penicillin.

The avoidance of penicillin by physicians may be contributing to increasing antimicrobial resistance and health care costs.

The vast majority of patients who claim to have penicillin allergy do not have an IgE-mediated allergy and are unlikely to have any kind of reaction at all. Previous reactions may have been secondary to infection, other medications, or impurities in older preparations of penicillin.