| Related Articles |
Antibiotic Hypersensitivity Reactions and Approaches to Desensitization.
Clin Infect Dis. 2013 Dec 23;
Authors: Legendre DP, Muzny CA, Marshall GD, Swiatlo E
Abstract
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 (SJS), and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN). 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 in order to limit the possibility of a Type I reaction.
PMID: 24368623 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]