ALK, Inc.: Confirming Penicillin Allergy Allows Increased Patient Treatment Options

ROUND ROCK, Texas, March 3, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Penicillin allergy, reported in 10 percent of the population, is the most commonly documented drug allergy in the U.S. Yet nine out of 10 patients reporting a penicillin allergy are not actually allergic.^[I]  Based on current evidence, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) recently published a position statement encouraging more frequent and widespread penicillin allergy testing in efforts to reduce cost of care, enhance patient safety and improve outcomes of care.

"The ability to test and remove an incorrect penicillin allergy diagnosis from a patient health record is a massive breakthrough in the allergy community," said Jorge Alderete, President ALK, Inc. "Our goal is to enable healthcare providers to prescribe less expensive, less toxic and more appropriate antibiotics, by providing education and training on penicillin allergy testing. Properly diagnosing penicillin allergy improves patient care in the allergy community, while also supporting antibiotic stewardship initiatives."

In its most recent Threat Report published in 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlights the hazards posed by antibiotic resistance surmising that more than 2 million infections and 23,000 deaths occur annually because of antibiotic resistance. Even today penicillin and its derivatives remain among the cheapest, most effective and least toxic antibiotics. Routine testing of patients is an essential tool for reducing expenses and broad-spectrum antibiotic use.

"There are many potential benefits in educating our peers and patients about the importance of penicillin allergy testing," said Dr. Justin Chen, Allergy and Immunology Physician at Parkland Health and Hospital System and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX. "Allergists should encourage more frequent and routine performance of penicillin allergy testing with the goals of reducing costs of care and enhancing patient safety by facilitating appropriate antibiotic therapy.  This is an exciting new arena for our specialty to raise its visibility while simultaneously addressing a major need within the medical community."

To learn more about penicillin allergy testing, visit us at Booth 515 at AAAAI Annual Meeting.

For more information on penicillin allergy testing see www.penallergytest.com

Media Contacts

Laura Davis
Manager, PRE-PEN Business Unit
[email protected]

Stephanie Kurland
Account Director, Dodge Communications
[email protected]

[i] Macy, Eric, et al. Health Care Use and Serious Infection Prevalence Associated with Hospitalized Patients. JACI. Vol. 133, No. 3. March 2014.

SOURCE PRE-PEN

Related Links

http://www.penallergytest.com