Penicillin Allergy Delabeling

About this episode

This episode discusses the implications of penicillin allergy labels and introduces the PEN-FAST score as a tool for risk-stratifying patients.

We’ve all seen it: the patient whose chart is “flagged” with a penicillin allergy, but when you dig into the history, the story doesn’t quite add up. Maybe it was a stomach ache in the 90s, or maybe they’re just carrying a “inherited” allergy from a parent. In this episode of EM Pulse, we sit down with ED Clinical Pharmacist Haley Burhans to discuss why these labels are more than just a nuisance—they’re a clinical liability—and how a simple tool can empower you to fix them on the fly. The Hidden Danger of the “Safe” Choice Choosing a non-beta-lactam antibiotic because of a questionable allergy label feels like the path of least resistance, but the data tells a different story. We explore how “playing it safe” can actually lead to: Worse Outcomes: Why second line antibiotics often mean higher treatment failure rates. The “Superbug” Factor: The surprising link between penicillin allergy labels and the rise of MRSA and VRE in our communities. The C. diff Connection: Why alternative choices might be setting your patient up for a much more difficult recovery. The Solution: The PEN-FAST Score How do you move from…

People in this episode

Guest: Haley Burhans

Topics covered

• penicillin allergy
• clinical liability
• antibiotic treatment
• PEN-FAST score
• patient safety

Keywords

• penicillin allergy
• clinical pharmacist
• antibiotics
• treatment failure
• MRSA
• VRE
• C. diff
• PEN-FAST score

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: UC Davis Department of Emergency Medicine

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