Forbes Innovation Healthcare: Millions Of Britons Avoid Penicillin — But Most Don’t Need To
Key Highlights :
Katherine Hignett Senior Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. I write about U.K. health policy.
Millions of people in the U.K. believe they are allergic to penicillin, but most of them don’t need to avoid the drug. According to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), around 4 million people in the U.K. — or 6% of the population — have “penicillin allergy” logged in their medical record. However, research shows that only around 10% of these people actually have a genuine allergy to the antibiotic.
This means that many members of the public are needlessly avoiding the highly effective antibiotic, leaving them at greater risk of serious illness from infections. In very rare cases, this can even be fatal. Research shows that 6 extra people per 1,000 die following treatment for infection if they’re labelled as allergic to penicillin.
The problem is not limited to the U.K., as many members of the public in the U.S. also believe they’re allergic to the antibiotic when they’re likely not. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that some 10% of U.S. adults say they’ve had an allergic reaction to penicillin at some point in their lives. However, less than 1% of the population actually produce an allergic response when tested.
Patients — and their clinicians — may believe they have an allergy to penicillin for many reasons. Common side effects of the drug — like nausea or diarrhea — may be mistaken for an allergic reaction, as may symptoms that can be caused by infection itself, like skin rashes. In some cases, people who displayed allergy symptoms as children may believe they remain allergic as adults. But many people — including those who have tested positive for an allergy in the past — can tolerate the drug later in life. The CDC says around 80% of people who have a true penicillin allergy are no longer sensitive a decade later.
Amena Warner, who leads Clinical Services at charity Allergy UK, said its common for adults to believe they still have a penicillin allergy many years after perceived reactions. “Many people have had a label of having a penicillin allergy from early childhood often after having a rash with antibiotics,” she said. “This label can be carried with them the rest of their lives, without it ever being investigated.”
Many patients thought to have a penicillin allergy will be prescribed what are called “broad spectrum” antibiotics instead. But these can be less effective against some infections — and their widespread use contributes to antibiotic resistance. The RPS recommends people who find “penicillin allergy” in their medical records seek advice before assuming it is accurate. Allergic reactions can themselves be severe and even fatal, so it is important for healthcare professionals to properly investigate them.
RPS Spokesperson Ms Tase Oputu said: “Many individuals are at low, or very low risk, of having a genuine penicillin allergy and we often find that after careful investigation that they can take penicillin safely. Others, who may have had a severe reaction in the past, will need allergy testing and in some cases may never be able to take penicillin.”
It is important for members of the public to be aware that they may not be as allergic to penicillin as they think. If they find “penicillin allergy” in their medical record, they should seek advice from their healthcare provider to ensure they are able to safely take the drug if necessary. Doing so can help to reduce the risk of serious illness from infections and contribute to the fight against antibiotic resistance.
