c6 Amoxicilloyl

Allergens within Drugs

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The penicillins are the commonest cause of drug-induced allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis (3).

Allergen Exposure

The penicillins are a major and widely used group of antibiotics. Extensive clinical use and has shown, them to have low toxicity (1). The aminopenicillins (such as ampicillin and amoxicillin) were developed because of the need for gram-negative antimicrobial activity (2). Worldwide, amoxicillin is one of the most widely prescribed betalactam antibiotics in both in- and outpatients clinics (5).

Potential Cross-Reactivity

Diagnosis of allergic reactions to amoxicillin and good tolerance of other penicillins appears to be on the increase (5). There are reports of patients with immediate allergic reactions to amoxicillin but with good tolerance of penicillin G (6, 7).

Clinical Experience

The penicillins are the commonest cause of drug-induced allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis (3). Although the true incidence is difficult to assess, it is a significant clinical problem (4).
 
Review
The penicillins are a major and widely used group of antibiotics. Extensive clinical use has shown, them to have low toxicity (1). The aminopenicillins (such as ampicillin and amoxicillin) were developed because of the need for gram-negative antimicrobial activity (2). Worldwide, amoxicillin is one of the most widely prescribed betalactam antibiotics in both in- and outpatients clinics (5). The penicillins are the commonest cause of drug-induced allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis (3). Although the true incidence is difficult to assess, it is a significant clinical problem (4).
 
Diagnosis of allergic reactions to amoxicillin and good tolerance of other penicillins appears to be on the increase (5). There are reports of patients with immediate allergic reactions to amoxicillin, but with good tolerance of penicillin G (6, 7).
 

References:

    1. Neu HC. Chemotherapy of infections. In: Braunwald E, Isselbacher KJ, Petersdorf RG, Wilson JD, Martin JB, Fauci AS, eds. Harrison's principles of internal medicine. 11th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1987;485:485-502.
    2. Wright AJ, Wilkowske CJ. The penicillins. Mayo Clin Proc 1991;66(10):1047-63.
    3. Van Arsdel PP Jr. Classification and Risk Factors for Drug Allergy. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am 1991;11(3):475-91.
    4. Erffmeyer JE. Penicillin allergy. Clin Rev Allergy 1986;4:171-88.
    5. Vega JM, Blanca M, Garcia JJ, Carmona MJ, Miranda A, Perez-Estrada M, et al. Immediate allergic reactions to amoxicillin. Allergy 1994;49(5):317-22.
    6. Blanca M, Vega JM, Garcia J, Carmona MJ, Terados S, Avila MJ, et al. Allergy to penicillin with good tolerance to other penicillins; study of the incidence in subjects allergic to beta-lactams [see comments]. Clin Exp Allergy 1990;20(5):475-81.
    7. Blanca M, Mayorga C, Sanchez F, Vega JM, Fernandez J, Juarez C, et al. Differences in serum IgE antibody activity to benzylpenicillin and amoxicillin measured by RAST in a group of penicillin allergic patients. Allergy 1991;46(8):632-8.

2000



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