Outpatient Penicillin Allergy Testing in Pregnant Women Who Report an Allergy

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of outpatient penicillin allergy testing among pregnant women.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study at a large academic hospital from March 2019 to March 2020. We recruited pregnant women with a self-reported penicillin allergy who underwent allergy testing between 14 0/7 and 36 6/7 weeks of gestation.

Results: Of 127 eligible women pregnant women, 74 (58%, 95% CI 4-67%) accepted allergy testing. Fifty completed or intended to complete allergy testing, yielding a feasibility rate of 68% (95% CI 56-78%). Among the 46 women actually tested (who ranged in age from 18 to 42), 93% (95% CI 68-100%) had a negative test result. A systemic reaction (symptoms consistent with anaphylaxis) occurred in only 2 women (4%, 95% CI 0.5-15%) despite 20 (43%) reporting a severe allergy. No woman suffered an adverse event as a result of allergy testing. In multivariate analysis adjusting for age and parity, women with public insurance had decreased odds of undergoing penicillin allergy testing (adjusted odds ratio 0.24, 95% CI 0.08-0.69).

Conclusion: Outpatient penicillin allergy testing is acceptable and feasible in pregnancy.