Majority of Australians who report penicillin allergy not truly allergic

Key points

• Up to 90 per cent of Australians who report a penicillin allergy are not truly allergic, according to new guidelines from the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy. The updated advice is aimed at GPs and other health professionals on diagnosing and managing the allergy and when to refer patients to a specialist.
• Experts say the mislabelling can lead to longer hospital stays, higher health costs and greater antimicrobial resistance.
• Doctors urged patients to raise the question with their GP, and warned against testing for an allergy by taking penicillin without a prescription.