It is estimated around 10% of patients who are admitted to hospital are labelled as penicillin allergic, but the vast majority have not experienced an allergic reaction. There is increasing evidence that incorrect penicillin allergy labels can result in patients receiving suboptimal alternative antibiotic treatment and this may lead to worse outcomes. It is therefore beneficial to assess whether patients have experienced a true allergic reaction and consider removing their allergy label.
The aim of this document is to guide best practice on the identification and removal of penicillin allergy labels in adults who have not experienced a true hypersensitivity reaction. This guidance is intended for use in patients reporting a penicillin allergy in secondary care settings in NHS Wales.
⇩ All Wales guidance for penicillin allergy de-labelling in adults in secondary care 575KB (PDF) |
(Published July 2024)
The appendices referred to in the All Wales guidance for penicillin allergy de-labelling in adults in secondary care are all available as separate downloads:
Easy Read patient information leaflets are available in English or Welsh:
(Patient information leaflets published July 2024)