WIP 156 - Outcomes of a Penicillin Allergy Delabelling Initiative in a Pediatric Primary Care Center

Poster Number: WIP 156
Publication Number: WIP 156.2565

Background: Overreporting of beta-lactam antibiotic allergies is prevalent, leading to unnecessary avoidance of these antibiotics. Studies have shown that over 90% of individuals with documented penicillin or beta-lactam allergies in the EMR are able to tolerate beta-lactams on subsequent testing, highlighting the need to remove these allergy labels from the EMR when appropriate. Avoidance of beta-lactam antibiotics due to reported allergies can result in suboptimal treatment, increased healthcare costs, and greater risks associated with beta-lactam alternative antibiotics.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the impact of an educational intervention on resident physicians' referral practices and comfort level in discussing beta-lactam allergies. Our project aim is to increase the number of referrals to a trained allergist amongst children with documented beta-lactam allergies, with the goal of empowering pediatricians to initiate the beta-lactam allergy de-labeling process. We aim to increase the number of allergist referrals by 30% from pre-intervention levels.

Design/Methods: In this study, we utilize a pre- and post-intervention design to assess the influence of an educational program on the referral patterns and communication comfort of resident physicians regarding beta-lactam allergies. Residents will be shown data about the effectiveness of penicillin allergy delabelling and why it is important for patient care.
We will focus our analysis on children with documented beta-lactam allergies who are under the care of resident physicians in our primary care clinic. Specifically, we will examine the quantity of referrals for these patients during the six months preceding and following the educational intervention. Logistic regression and additional descriptive statistical analysis will be performed using SPSS. Additionally, we will evaluate resident knowledge and confidence in discussing beta-lactam allergies with patients and families through post-intervention surveys. Appropriate IRB review and approval has been obtained.