A recent study suggests that patients with syphilis who believe they are allergic to penicillin may safely remove this label, improving treatment outcomes. The research will be presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) in Boston.
According to allergist Cosby Stone, MD, MPH, the study's lead author and ACAAI member, "The amount of people with untreated syphilis in the United States is at its highest level since the 1950s, and penicillin is the preferred and most effective antibiotic for syphilis." Dr. Stone emphasizes that many patients mislabeled as allergic to penicillin do not respond to other treatments before considering allergy testing.
In their analysis of 12 identified patients labeled as allergic to penicillin, all had this label removed. Of these patients, nine received subsequent treatment with penicillin; five were cured, three experienced reinfection or unknown issues preventing cure, and one had an unknown outcome.
The authors urge prompt evaluation and removal of incorrect allergy labels in order to prevent treatment failure and negative health consequences. They conclude that aggressive delabeling should be considered for low-risk patients.
For further information on drug allergies or finding an allergist nearby, individuals can visit AllergyandAsthmaRelief.org. The ACAAI's annual scientific meeting runs from October 24-28. Updates can be followed on X/Twitter using #ACAAI24.
The ACAAI is a professional medical organization based in Arlington Heights, Illinois, comprising over 6,000 allergists-immunologists dedicated to patient care and research. More details can be found at AllergyandAsthmaRelief.org.
