Consider penicillin, even if you have had a prior reaction

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-11/acoa-cpe102715.php

Public Release: 5-Nov-2015
Consider penicillin, even if you have had a prior reaction
Research indicates you can start taking penicillin again once you've tested negative
American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology

Most people who think they're allergic to penicillin have been told so by a doctor after they've had a reaction to the drug. And the majority, even though they've never been allergy tested, never take penicillin again.

A study presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting, examined the records of 15 patients who, after being told they were penicillin-allergic, tested negative for penicillin allergy, and were then able to be treated with intravenous penicillin on multiple occasions.

"We found intravenous penicillins to be safe for repeated use in patients who had been told they were allergic," said allergist David Khan, MD, study author and ACAAI fellow. "Of the patients whose records we examined, there were no adverse drug reactions or evidence of recurrence of their penicillin allergy. There is often thought to be a higher risk in patients who get intravenous penicillin, but we did not find this to be the case. Previous reported reactions included rash, hives and swollen lips, but none of those reactions occurred after allergy testing, and treatment with multiple courses of intravenous penicillins."

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