Antibiotic Hypersensitivity Reactions and Approaches to Desensitization

Before initiating antibiotic therapy, drug hypersensitivity is an important consideration, and a common strategy is to avoid giving patients medications when a high likelihood of severe reactions exists. With an increase in antibiotic resistance and a decrease in novel antibiotics, there is greater...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical infectious diseases 2014-04, Vol.58 (8), p.1140-1148
Main Authors: Legendre, Davey P., Muzny, Christina A., Marshall, Gailen D., Swiatlo, Edwin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Allergies
Anti-Bacterial Agents - immunology
Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use
Antibacterial agents
Antibiotics
Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents
Biological and medical sciences
CLINICAL PRACTICE
Desensitization, Immunologic - methods
Disease prevention
Dosage
Drug allergies
Drug hypersensitivity
Drug Hypersensitivity - therapy
Drug therapy
Humans
Hypersensitive response
Infectious diseases
Inurement
Medical sciences
Medications
Patients
Penicillin
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Side effects
Skin
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Summary:Before initiating antibiotic therapy, drug hypersensitivity is an important consideration, and a common strategy is to avoid giving patients medications when a high likelihood of severe reactions exists. With an increase in antibiotic resistance and a decrease in novel antibiotics, there is greater pressure to consider antibiotics in patients with a history of adverse reactions. The major concerns include IgE-mediated, or type I, reactions, anaphylaxis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and toxic epidermal necrolysis. Some antibiotics with similar characteristics, such as cephalosporins and penicillins, may be given safely to patients with a certain allergy profile. There is still greater concern when considering antibiotics for patients with reported allergy. Desensitization is a strategy to safely induce drug tolerance to a specific drug to limit the possibility of a type I reaction.
ISSN:1058-4838
1537-6591
DOI:10.1093/cid/cit949