A systematic review and meta-analysis found that beta-lactam allergy labels (BALs) are associated with increased rates of surgical-site infection and other adverse outcomes, researchers reported yesterday in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
The review, led by researchers from the University of Peking, included 63 observational and interventional studies that compared clinical outcomes related to the presence or absence of a BAL.
While an estimated 10% to 15% of adults worldwide carry a BAL, the label is often unverified, and as many as 90% of people with a BAL may actually be beta-lactam tolerant. The concern is that patients with BALs may receive inappropriate treatment with alternative broad-spectrum antibiotics, which can result in unintended adverse effects.
Of the 63 studies reviewed, 60 were from high-income…