Texas Governor

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STATE PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL PENICILLIN ALLERGY DAY

SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

NATIONAL PENICILLIN ALLERGY DAY PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, penicillin is the most commonly reported drug allergy with 10% of all US patients—or 30 million Americans—reporting having an allergic reaction to a penicillin-class antibiotic in their past.1

WHEREAS, penicillin allergy history is often inaccurate. Research shows that 9 out of 10 patients reporting as penicillin allergic are not truly allergic to penicillin.1

WHEREAS, inaccurate diagnosis of penicillin allergy can adversely impact medical costs for both patients and healthcare systems: research shows that as antibiotic costs for patients reporting penicillin allergies are up to 63% higher than for those who do not report being penicillin-allergic.2

WHEREAS, in the hospital setting, history of penicillin allergy translates to about 10% more hospital days, 30% higher incidence of VRE infections, 23% higher incidence of C difficile infections, and 14% higher incidence of MRSA infections.2

WHEREAS, these adverse events occur because penicillin “allergic” patients are given more broad spectrum antibiotics2, which contributes to the public health problem of antibiotic resistance.3

WHEREAS, National Penicillin Allergy Day was created to raise awareness of false penicillin allergy and encourage the de-labeling of patients falsely labeled with penicillin allergy by promoting the existence of penicillin allergy skin testing.

THEREFORE I, Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, do hereby proclaim September 28, 2018: National Penicillin Allergy Day in the State of Texas and encourage the residents of Texas to increase their understanding and awareness of penicillin allergy by visiting www.penallergytest.com/NPAD.

References:

  1. Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters representing the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology; American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology; Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Drug allergy: an updated practice parameter. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2010 Oct;105(4):259-273
  2. Macy, E. M., & Contreras, R. (2014). Healthcare Utilization and Serious Infection Prevalence Associated With Penicillin “Allergy” In Hospitalized Patients: A Cohort Study. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology,133(2). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2013.09.021
  3. Dellit, TH, Owens, RC, McGowan JE, Jr et al. Infectious Disease Society of America and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America Guidelines for Developing Institutional Programs to Enhance Antimicrobial Stewardship. Clin Infect Dis. 2007;44-150-77.