Differences in beta-lactam and penicillin allergy: Beyond the West and focusing on Asia-Pacific

Hugo W F Mak; Maegan H Y Yeung; Jane C Y Wong; Valerie Chiang; Philip H Li

doi:10.3389/falgy.2022.1059321

Differences in beta-lactam and penicillin allergy: Beyond the West and focusing on Asia-Pacific

Front Allergy. 2022 Nov 22:3:1059321. doi: 10.3389/falgy.2022.1059321. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Hugo W F Mak¹, Maegan H Y Yeung¹, Jane C Y Wong¹, Valerie Chiang², Philip H Li¹

Affiliations

¹ Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
² Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Pathology, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China.

Abstract

Beta-lactam (BL) antibiotic "allergy" labels are common, but often overdiagnosed. Although much research has been focused on the BL allergy and the delabelling process in the West, studies from other parts of the world remain sparse. This review outlines the contrasting global epidemiology, shifting clinical practices and disparities of BL allergy in the Asia-Pacific region compared with the West. Innovative strategies to overcome barriers in BL allergy workup are discussed and potential directions for future research and service development are also proposed.

Keywords: Asia-Pacific; West; allergy; beta-lactam; penicillin.

Publication types

Review