Drug Allergy

You are treating a patient with pneumonia who has a penicillin allergy noted in their chart. Before prescribing an alternative antibiotic, you review the allergy and patient history. Do you know what questions to ask? What are reasonable steps to take before prescribing?

A drug allergy is an adverse immune-mediated reaction to a medication, where the body's immune system mistakenly identifies the drug as harmful and mounts a response. These reactions can range from mild skin rashes to severe, life-threatening conditions such as anaphylaxis. Accurate diagnosis is essential to prevent unnecessary avoidance of medications and ensure safe treatment options.

This course provides a evidence-based approach with real-world case studies and practical knowledge to drug allergy differentiation and management. By the end, you will be equipped to make informed, safe prescribing decisions and optimize patient outcomes in antibiotic allergy management. 

To enhance the development process, the general outline of this course were generated using AI technology, with human expertise ensuring accuracy and relevance. 

Target Audience

  • Allergists/Immunologists
  • Fellows-in-Training
  • Nurses and Nurse Practitioners
  • Physician Assistants and other Allied Health Professionals
  • Advance Practice Providers

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, learners will be able to:

  • Collect a clinical history that differentiates between IgE- and non-IgE-mediated drug allergy.
  • Identify clinical symptoms of severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions (SCAR) and serum sickness-like reactions (SSLR).
  • Recommend appropriate evaluation and de-labeling strategies for penicillin allergy, including selection of penicillin skin testing or oral provocation challenges based on clinical history.
  • Recognize that most patients labeled with penicillin allergy are not truly allergic and apply this understanding to clinical decision-making, including awareness of the low rate of cross-reactivity between penicillins and cephalosporins. 

Summary

Available credit: 
  • 0.00 Attendance
    Attendance credit.
Course opens: 
06/15/2026
Course expires: 
06/15/2028
Member cost:
$0.00
Cost:
$0.00

See the Core Curriculum for Advance Practice Providers home page for faculty and credential information.

Accreditation Statement

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Questions

Activity-related questions should be directed to [email protected] 

Available Credit

  • 0.00 Attendance
    Attendance credit.

Price

Member cost:
$0.00
Cost:
$0.00
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