Can fluoroquinolones be safely used in patients with immediate hypersensitivity reaction to penicillin?


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Acar E., TÜRK M., KÖYLÜCE S., Yilmaz H. E. B., Seker S., Yapici E. A., ...Daha Fazla

ALLERGOLOGIA ET IMMUNOPATHOLOGIA, cilt.53, sa.5, ss.94-99, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 53 Sayı: 5
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.15586/aei.v53i5.1443
  • Dergi Adı: ALLERGOLOGIA ET IMMUNOPATHOLOGIA
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, EMBASE, DIALNET
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.94-99
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: cross-reactivity, drug hypersensitivity, fluoroquinolone hypersensitivity, oral provocation testing, penicillin allergy
  • Erciyes Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether fluoroquinolone antibiotics, which are structurally distinct from penicillins, can be safely prescribed as alternatives for patients with a history of immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) to penicillin in the absence of multidrug allergy and without the need for provocation testing. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients who presented to the Erciyes University Adult Immunology and Allergy Outpatient Clinic with a documented history of penicillin allergy between 2015 and 2024. Inclusion criteria for immediate hypersensitivity to penicillin included at least one of the following: (1) a history of at least two separate immediate HSRs to the same penicillin; or (2) positive results from penicillin G/V (Penicillin G and Penicillin V) serum-specific immunoglobulin E (SsIgE) and/or skin prick testing. Patients who met these criteria and subsequently underwent oral provocation testing with fluoroquinolone antibiotics were included in the study. Results: This study included 76 patients (72% female, mean age: 45.63 +/- 11.76 years), 47.4% of whom had comorbid allergic diseases. The diagnosis was primarily based on clinical history (80%), while the remainder were confirmed by SsIgE testing, skin tests, or drug provocation. A history of urticaria-angioedema was reported in 59.2% of the patients, while 40.8% had a history of anaphylaxis. Following oral provocation testing with fluoroquinolones, only two patients (2.6%) developed mild, self-limited urticaria or angioedema, without systemic involvement. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates a low positive rate (2.6%) for fluoroquinolone oral provocation testing among patients with penicillin allergy. These findings suggest that fluoroquinolones may be a viable and safe alternative in patients with a confirmed penicillin hypersensitivity and no history of multidrug allergy, and may be considered without prior provocation testing in selected cases. (c) 2025 Codon Publications. Published by Codon Publications.