Penicillin Allergy Testing Can Now Be Done As Part Of Routine Hospital Care
An international study found that about 95% of people labeled as allergic to penicillin were misdiagnosed as children or have grown out of the allergy. A smartphone app assesses patients' risk, and those deemed to have a low-risk penicillin allergy can be offered a direct oral challenge — a penicillin antibiotic — and observed for a possible reaction.
Most patients who have been labelled allergic to penicillin probably aren't, according to a new study from Australian researchers. The study, led by Austin Health in collaboration with the University of Melbourne, drew results from more than 5,000 patients internationally. (Westerholm, 4/6)
Results from a multinational study indicate that direct oral challenge (DOC) is a safe and effective strategy for identifying hospital patients who truly have a penicillin allergy, researchers reported last week in Clinical Infectious Diseases. (Dall, 4/6)
In other health and wellness news —
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A growing number of teenage boys are chasing dramatic body transformations online — building massive muscles, shedding fat and documenting it all for millions to see. But behind some of the viral physiques lies a troubling trend: the use of a powerful drug never approved for humans. (Yamaguchi and Baek, 4/6)
