Journal of Infectious Diseases & Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

Introduction: The incidence of an allergic reaction to antibiotics is as high as 5-10%1. Interestingly, a significant number of
patients are under the impression that they are allergic to certain medications, but in fact, some of these cases are not true
allergies but side effects. False drug allergy status can potentially compromise patients’ care and increase healthcare expenses.
Objective: This audit looks at 1) how well allergy status is recorded in medical and surgical wards at SGH2) are the appropriate
red wristbands given? 3) What is the percentage of patients who are labelled as ‘allergic to certain medications’ have a true
allergy?
Method: Data was collected from 99 random medical inpatients and 101 random surgical inpatients using our designed
proforma. The proforma asked the following questions: 1) Does the patient claim to have allergy? 2) If yes - what reaction is
it? 3) Is the allergy status recorded in clerking sheet and drug chart? 4) Is the allergic reaction recorded? 5) Are appropriate
wristbands given to the patients?
Results: 30% of patients claimed that they have allergy. Only 89% and 97% of allergy status was recorded in clerking sheets
and drug charts respectively. Out of the patients who had an allergy only 33.3% of allergic reactions was recorded. Only 40.3%
of patients had true allergy (anaphylaxis; breathlessness; rash; swollen lips, face, etc.) and the rest had side effects which they
thought are allergic reactions (e.g. stomach pain, muscle ache, sweating, diarrhoea and vomiting, etc.). Out of the patients
who had an allergy 16.7% could not remember the allergic reaction and another 8.3% were not even aware that they had drug
allergy even though it was mentioned in the notes. Overall 6% of patients did not have appropriate red wristbands on and
another 6% of patients did not know that they have allergy.
Conclusion: According to the data only 1/3 of patients had the type of reaction recorded. Almost 35% of patients who
were labelled as ‘allergic to certain drug’ had a false allergy. These data showed that it is very important to give appropriate
wristbands to the patients with allergy because sometimes they do not remember/know that they have drug allergy. For
optimal management of infectious diseases, the choice of most suitable antibiotic is essential. This audit aimed to highlight the
importance of detailed record of allergy status and the potential implications in patients’ safety.
References: 1) Romano A, Warrington R 2014, ‘Antibiotic Allergy’, Immunology and allergy clinics of North America, V34,
pp. 489-506.

Biography

A Aslanyan started working in Scunthorpe General Hospital as a Foundation Year 1 doctor. A Aslanyan already had rotations in Urology department (where he did
the audit that he is going to present) and Gynaecology department. At the moment he is working in elderly medicine and stroke unit. He is moving to Hull in August
2015 for his Foundation Year 2 where he is going to have rotations in Accident and Emergency, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery.