Understanding Penicillin Allergy Assessment and Delabelling (FutureLearn)

Penicillin allergy labels are associated with significant impacts on patients and health systems, such as longer hospital stays and increased antimicrobial resistance. Around 15% of inpatients are labelled as penicillin allergic, however, over 95% of them are falsely labelled and can tolerate penicillins.

Explore the difference between a penicillin allergy and intolerance
You’ll begin by understanding the distinction between an allergy and intolerance to penicillin. This includes learning about the types of hypersensitivity reactions and the mechanisms of true penicillin allergy.
You’ll also explore the categorisation of penicillin allergies and the identification of at-risk patients.

Learn how to manage patients with a penicillin allergy label
The course will enable you to assess and manage patients with suspected penicillin allergies.
You’ll learn to risk stratify patients based on their penicillin allergy history and correctly document their allergy status.
By understanding the role of the ‘non-specialist’ in penicillin allergy delabelling, you’ll have the skills to offset the negative impacts of penicillin allergy labels.

Realise the importance of antimicrobial stewardship
Finally, you’ll explore real-world case studies that highlight the importance of antimicrobial stewardship.
This will provide insights into the global response to penicillin allergy and how to apply this to your own healthcare context.
By the end of this course, you’ll understand penicillin allergy assessment and delabelling, enhancing your career as a healthcare professional.

Syllabus

Week 1: Introduction to Penicillin Allergy
Week 2: Diagnosis and Management of Patients with Historical Penicillin Allergy Labels
Week 3: Real-world Case Studies

What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

• demonstrate the differences between allergy and intolerance
• describe the mechanisms of true penicillin allergy
• explain the consequences of penicillin allergy labels to patients, healthcare systems, and antimicrobial stewardship
• identify how to assess and manage patients with a history of penicillin allergy
• describe the key elements of a penicillin allergy-focused history
• classify the allergy history into a risk category using a decision support tool
• assess the appropriate management for a patient using a decision support tool
• describe the roles of the 'specialist' and 'non-specialist' in penicillin allergy delabelling