β-lactam allergy: clinical implications and costs

Area of Science:

• Clinical Pharmacy
• Infectious Diseases
• Health Economics

Background:

• β-lactam allergy is the most frequently reported medication allergy.
• Accurate allergy history is vital for safe antibiotic prescribing and cost reduction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To audit adherence to hospital antibiotic policy for patients with documented penicillin allergy.
• To assess the cost implications of unnecessary non-penicillin-based antibiotic use.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective audit of 94 patients with documented penicillin allergy.
• Inclusion of inpatient drug charts and medical notes for data collection.
• Calculation of treatment costs and adherence to hospital guidelines.

Main Results:

• 81% compliance with hospital antibiotic policy was observed.
• Only 52% of cases included a documented description of the allergic reaction.
• The mean additional cost per patient was £89.29.

Conclusions:

• Maintaining vigilance and continuous education for healthcare professionals is essential.
• Avoiding unnecessary use of non-penicillin antibiotics can mitigate associated costs.
• Improved allergy documentation can enhance patient safety and reduce healthcare expenditure.