Antibiotic allergy labels in hospitalised and critically ill adults: a review of current impacts of inaccurate labelling.

Abstract

Antibiotic Allergy Labels (AAL) are reported by approximately 20% of hospitalised patients, yet over 85% will be negative on formal allergy testing. Hospitalised patients with an AAL have inferior patient outcomes, increased colonization with multidrug resistant organisms and frequently receive inappropriate antimicrobials. Hospitalised populations have been well studied, yet to date the impact of AALs on patients with critical illness remain less well defined. We review the prevalence and impact of AALs on hospitalised patients, including those in in critical care.