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Evaluation of Antibiotic Allergy: the Role of Skin Tests and Drug Challenges

  • ANAPHYLAXIS AND DRUG ALLERGY (DA KHAN AND M CASTELLS, SECTION EDITORS)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Antibiotic allergies are frequently reported in both adult and pediatric populations. While a detailed drug history is essential in the evaluation of antibiotic allergy, the history is typically insufficient to determine the presence of a drug allergy. The most readily available diagnostic testing for evaluating antibiotic allergies are drug skin testing and drug challenges. This review will focus on updates in the evaluation of antibiotic allergy utilizing immediate skin tests, delayed intradermal testing, drug patch tests, and drug challenges for both adults and children with histories of antibiotic allergies.

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Compliance with Ethics Guidelines

Conflict of Interest

Roland Solensky declares that he does consulting for Optimer Pharmaceuticals and that he and his institution have received grant money from Allerquest and Merck. David A. Khan declares no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Corvallis Clinic, Corvallis, OR, USA

    Roland Solensky

  2. Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX, 75390-8859, USA

    David A. Khan

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  1. Roland Solensky
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  2. David A. Khan
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Correspondence to David A. Khan.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Anaphylaxis and Drug Allergy

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Solensky, R., Khan, D.A. Evaluation of Antibiotic Allergy: the Role of Skin Tests and Drug Challenges. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 14, 459 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-014-0459-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-014-0459-z

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