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Objective To explore the status and influencing factors of latent tuberculosis infection among high school students in Chongqing and to provide technical support for the prevention and control of tuberculosis in schools in Chongqing. Methods Stratified cluster sampling method was used to select the students of the first and second years of high school in Chongqing in 2023, as the study subjects to detect latent tuberculosis infection with recombinant Mycobacterium tuberculosis fusion protein skin test, to collect the information related to latent tuberculosis infection, and to analyse the influencing factors using Logistic regression model. Results A total of 9161 students in the first and second years of high school in Chongqing were included, and 543 latent tuberculosis infections were detected, with a latent tuberculosis infection rate of 5. 93%. Multifactorial logistic regression analysis showed that history of previous tuberculosis (0R: 4, 244, 95%Cf: 2. 239 - 8. 044), history of close contact with tuberculosis (OR:2. 096, 95% CI: 1, 123 -3.914), smoking (OR: &819, 95% Cf: 3. 562 - 13. 053), and staying up late (<92,: 1. 665, 95% CI: 1. 154 - 2. 402) were risk factors for latent tuberculosis infection in students. Conclusion The rate of latent tuberculosis infection among students in the first and second years of high school in Chongqing is low. Not smoking, not staying up late, avoiding close contact with tuberculosis patients, taking good personal protective measures, strengthening physical exercise, and improving immunity can reduce the risk of students being infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hypersensitivity to beta-lactam (BL) antibiotics is one of the most frequent reported drug allergies. In our population, it is common to find labels of BL allergy in electronic medical records (EMRs) that have not been assessed. The objective of our study was to detect patients with beta-lactam allergy labels in their EMRs and to assess how many of them are false after a correct diagnostic evaluation. Methods: A multicentre prospective study was performed with patients labelled as allergic to BLs in their EMRs in the previous 5 years. Demographical and clinical data, as well as variables regarding the BL allergy label and the characteristics of the index reaction from clinical history and EMRs, were recorded. Then, diagnostic assessments including clinical history, skin tests (STs), and drug provocation tests (DPTs) were conducted in order to confirm or exclude the diagnosis of BL allergy. Results: A total of 249 patients completed the study, of which 160 (64.3%) were women with a median age of 57 years (interquartile range [IQR], 45-68). The most frequent BL allergy labels detected were for penicillin (124), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (61), and amoxicillin (54). Of the 204 patients who underwent STs, 20.1% were positive. DPTs were performed in 224 patients, showing good tolerance in 87.1% of cases. After the allergy diagnosis work-up, 186 patients (74.7%) were diagnosed as non-allergic to BL antibiotics. Conclusion: In our study population, the number of patients labelled as allergic to BLs in their EMRs was similar to that in previously published studies, with proportions near to 75%-80% being falsely labelled as allergic to BLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rare case of food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis caused by potato snacks is reported. Specific food triggers for anaphylaxis were identified by using the skin prick test, antigen analysis, and serum IgE assays. Four potato proteins were considered candidate antigens for food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis.

Abstract Dulaglutide is a glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) receptor agonist, which stimulates insulin release via activation of GLP‐1 receptors on pancreatic beta cells. We report the case of a 45‐year‐old woman with type 2 diabetes mellitus who started dulaglutide subcutaneously and developed, a few minutes after the fourth administration, a persistent itchy reaction at the injection site, followed, after two more administrations, by a diffuse itchy delayed urticaria‐like rash, healed in 7 days after drug interruption. Skin test performed after 3 months from the event demonstrated the culprit role of the drug. Given the limited evidence in literature, there is currently no standardised protocol for testing patients sensitised to one or more glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists. Performing skin tests, especially intradermal tests, is pivotal to confirm the aetiological role of the drug in the suspected hypersensitivity reaction, and possibly to identify an alternative to be proposed before precluding the entire drug class. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of systemic hypersensitivity reaction to dulaglutide presenting as a delayed urticaria‐like rash and confirmed by positive skin test.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by members of the M. tuberculosis complex (MTC) that affects numerous species. M. caprae, a member of the complex which is close to M. bovis, is emerging and affects several different hosts that include goats, cattle, sheep, pigs, rabbits, wild boar, red deer, foxes and also humans. A new M. caprae spoligotype (SB2737) was isolated from an outbreak of sheep tuberculosis affecting a mixed sheep (323)-goat (29) farm in 2021. The index case was detected by the La Rioja slaughterhouse veterinary inspection. Tracing back to the farm of origin, both species were submitted to Comparative Intradermal Tuberculin Test (CITT) and M. bovis-specific antibody ELISA tests. A subsample was also examined by IFN-γ release assay (IGRA) and all positives were slaughtered and pathologically and microbiologically investigated. Only 1.2% of sheep and no goat were positive in the CITT, and 11.4% in the IGRA sheep subsample, while up to 36.8% were positive in two consecutive M. bovis-specific antibody ELISA tests. Goats had always tested negative in annual intradermal follow-up since 2013. Upon confirmation of the immunologically positive sheep at slaughter, all the remaining negative animals were killed and 29.2% of sheep were still found infected. This raised the final overall prevalence to 37.5%. Antibody ELISA was the most sensitive (81.4%) in vivo detection method still showing a 85.0% specificity relative to pathological and microbiological tuberculosis status. It was nearly 10 times more sensitive than skin test and had an 86.8% positive predictive value. Notwithstanding a possible singular pathogenesis of the new spoligotype, this outbreak adds up to previous reports suggesting that sheep tuberculosis could be huge reservoir of infection worldwide overlooked by skin test low sensitivity or simply lack of investigation. This makes it urgent to extend the use antibody tests to address the Trojan horse of hidden M. tuberculosis complex infections on bovine TB control programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fungal infections are the primary cause of skin diseases. Topical application of antifungal drugs is the most preferred treatment which is associated with key limitations viz. need for high doses and frequency of application. By considering the limitations of current topical treatment, the present study involves the formulation and characterization of luliconazole nanogel. Materials and Methods: The luliconazole nanoparticles were prepared by using biodegradable polymer PLGA 50:50 and dispersed in polymeric dispersion prepared by Carbopol 940 and HPMC K4M. For optimization of nanoparticles as well as their polymeric dispersion a factor-three level (32) design was implemented. Optimized nanoparticles were characterized for various parameters viz. particle size, PDI, entrapment efficiency, XRD, SEM, whereas the nanogel was investigated for viscosity, cumulative drug release, spreadability, extrudability, skin irritation test, and antifungal activity. Results: The nine batches of nanoparticles as well as nanogel were prepared. Nanoparticles prepared by using 100 mg PLGA at 6 HPH cycles showed size, PDI, and % entrapment as 406 nm and 87% respectively was the desired batch. The XRD and SEM study ensured the encapsulation of drug with satisfactory surface morphology. Nano-gel formulated with 0.3% Carbopol and 1.0% HPMC was selected as optimized; it showed viscosity and % cumulative drug release as 3650 cP and 54% respectively. Nanogel showed significant sustained luliconazole release (54.12%) in comparison to simple nanoparticles (65.22%). The formulation showed improved antifungal activity than standard treatment without any skin irritation signs. Conclusion: Prepared nano-gel is a promising alternative to the current treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hypersensitivity to beta-lactam (BL) antibiotics is one of the most frequent reported drug allergies. In our population, it is common to find labels of BL allergy in electronic medical records (EMRs) that have not been assessed. The objective of our study was to detect patients with beta-lactam allergy labels in their EMRs and to assess how many of them are false after a correct diagnostic evaluation.Methods: A multicentre prospective study was performed with patients labelled as allergic to BLs in their EMRs in the previous 5 years. Demographical and clinical data, as well as variables regarding the BL allergy label and the characteristics of the index reaction from clinical history and EMRs, were recorded. Then, diagnostic assessments including clinical history, skin tests (STs), and drug provocation tests (DPTs) were conducted in order to confirm or exclude the diagnosis of BL allergy.Results: A total of 249 patients completed the study, of which 160 (64.3%) were women with a median age of 57 years (interquartile range [IQR], 45–68). The most frequent BL allergy labels detected were for penicillin (124), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (61), and amoxicillin (54). Of the 204 patients who underwent STs, 20.1% were positive. DPTs were performed in 224 patients, showing good tolerance in 87.1% of cases. After the allergy diagnosis work-up, 186 patients (74.7%) were diagnosed as non-allergic to BL antibiotics.Conclusion: In our study population, the number of patients labelled as allergic to BLs in their EMRs was similar to that in previously published studies, with proportions near to 75%–80% being falsely labelled as allergic to BLs.

Background. Human and wild rodent infection rates with Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis are needed to differentiate transmission pathways in anthropogenically altered habitats. Methods. Human participants in northeast Brazil were tested by the leishmanin skin test (LST) and inspected for lesions/scars characteristic of American clinical leishmaniasis (ACL). Molecular (PCR/qPCR) test records of free-ranging rodents were available from a concurrent capture–mark–recapture study. Force of Infection (λ) and recovery (ρ) rates were estimated from cross-sectional and longitudinal datasets. Results. Cumulative prevalences of human LST+ves and ACL scar+ves were 0.343–0.563 (n = 503 participants) and 0.122–0.475 (n = 503), respectively. Active ACL lesions were not detected. Annual rates of LST conversions were λ = 0.03–0.15 and ρ = 0.02–0.07. The probability of infection was independent of sex and associated with increasing age in addition to the period of exposure. Rodents (n = 596 individuals of 6 species) showed high rates of exclusively asymptomatic infection (λ = 0.222/month) and potential infectiousness to the sand fly vector. Spatially concurrent rodent and household human infection prevalences were correlated. Conclusions. Human exposure to L. (V.) braziliensis continues to be high despite the substantial drop in reported ACL cases in recent years. Spill-over transmission risk to humans from rodents in peridomestic habitats is likely supported by a rodent infection/transmission corridor linking houses, plantations, and the Atlantic Forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empty mast cell syndrome, also named post anaphylaxis mast cell anergy (PAMA), is a temporary state of loss of mast cell responsiveness after a severe immediate hypersensitivity reaction. In this study, we describe a case of PAMA after accidental re-exposure to amoxicillin in a patient who developed severe anaphylaxis to this drug three days earlier in the operating room. To our knowledge, this report is the second to document this phenomenon.

Bo Li,1,2 Li Jiang,1,2 Ni Wu,1,2 Yao Chen,1,2 Zhi Xu,3 Fengcheng Xu,2,4 Heping Chen,1 Tianhu Liu2,4 1Clinical Pharmacy Department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Pidu District People’s Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China; 2Drug Clinical Trial Management Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Pidu District People’s Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Pidu District People’s Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Pidu District People’s Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Bo Li, Clinical Pharmacy Department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Pidu District People’s Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China, Email lbydcg@163.com Tianhu Liu, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Pidu District People’s Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China, Email lthzgl@163.comBackground: In 2021, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of Chinese issued a document that no longer recommended the routine skin test for cephalosporin (RSTC). However, there is still resistance to the cancellation of RSTC in a primary hospital. The study aimed to explore the potential factors for hindering the abolition of the RSTC in a county-level hospital based on the PRECEDE model.Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted on healthcare workers in the Pidu District People’s Hospital, Chengdu, by online questionnaire from September 10 to September 25 in the 2021.The PRECEDE model was used to divide the potential factors of healthcare professionals in hindering the abolition of the RSTC into predisposing factors, enabling factors and reinforcing factors. Data were analyzed by ANOVA, Chi-square test, multiple linear and multiple logistic regression analysis.Results: We collected 605 respondents’ valid questionnaires. 254 healthcare professionals were against cancellation of the RSTC, accounting for 41.98%. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that working for 6~10 years (β = 1.953, P = 0.024), medium (β = 1.995, P = 0.030) or senior (β = 4.003, P = 0.007) professional qualification, pharmacists (β = 3.830, P = 0.013) and working in surgical department (β= 4.462, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with higher score of predisposing factors, enabling factors, and reinforcing factors on abolition of RSTC. Furthermore, multiple logistic regression analysis showed that pharmacists (OR=3.113, 95% CI: 1.341– 7.223, P=0.030), medium professional qualification (OR=1.272, 95% CI: 0.702– 2.302, P=0.008), scores of predisposing factors (OR=1.335, 95% CI: 1.033– 1.726, P=0.009), and scores of enabling factors (OR=1.208, 95% CI: 1.109– 1.315, P< 0.001) were independently associated with the positive anticipated behavior on the abolition of RSTC. While nurses (OR=0.516, 95% CI: 0.284– 0.938, P< 0.001) were independently associated with anticipated negative behavior.Conclusion: Pharmacists, medium professional qualification, and healthcare professionals with higher scores of predisposing and enabling factors were more likely to have a positive anticipated behavior on the abolition of RSTC, while nurses did not.Keywords: cephalosporin, skin test, potential factors, PRECEDE model, cross-sectional study

A considerable number of pediatric patients treated with beta-lactam (BL) antibiotics develop delayed onset of skin rashes during the course of treatment. Although the most frequent cause of these symptoms is infectious, many cases are labeled as allergic reactions to these drugs. BL allergy labels could have a negative impact, as they imply avoidance of this group of drugs and the use of second-line antibiotics, leading to a potential increase in adverse effects and the utilization of less effective therapies. This constitutes a major public health concern and economic burden, as the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics can result in multidrug-resistant organisms and prolonged hospital stays. Therefore, it is crucial to delabel patients during childhood to avoid false labeling in adult life. Although the label of BL allergy is among the most frequent causes of allergy referral, its management remains controversial, and new diagnostic perspectives are changing the paradigm of managing BL allergies in children. Traditionally, drug provocation testing (DPT) was exclusively performed in patients who had previously obtained negative results from skin tests (STs). However, the sensitivity of STs is low, and the role of in vitro testing in the pediatric population is not well defined. Recent studies have demonstrated the safety of direct DPT without prior ST or serum tests for pediatric patients who report a low-risk reaction to BLs, which is cost-effective. However, there is still a debate on the optimal allergic workup to be performed in children with a benign immediate reaction and the management of children with severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions. In this review, we will discuss the impact of the label of BL allergy and the role of the different tools currently available to efficiently address BL allergy delabeling in children.

A 34-year-old man receiving his first dose of ampicillin-sulbactam for osteomyelitis in a hospital setting experienced fatal drug-induced anaphylaxis.

INTRODUCTION: Food allergy (FA) is being increasingly recognized in children. Correct identification of a food allergen gives the opportunity to eliminate the offending food, thus reducing allergy-associated symptoms. Ruling out FA allows parents to reintroduce the nutrient excluded based on suspicion only. The objective of the study was to find the association between "parental perception of food causing allergy" and "confirmation of the allergen by skin prick tests (SPTs)" in children. We describe the profile of FA in the Indian population. METHODS: In this prospective observational study, 47 children aged 4–12 years with suspected FA were subjected to SPT. We evaluated for the association between the "parental perception of foods causing allergy in their children" and the confirmation of allergen by SPT. RESULTS: Among the 47 children, in 20 (42.5%), FA was confirmed by SPT. Common allergens identified by SPT were shrimp, milk, egg, beef, peanut, and tuna. In our study, we had reasonable agreement (kappa > 0.6) between parental suspicion of FA and positive SPT: higher association was noted with the foods mutton, beef, and shrimp. CONCLUSION: In more than half of children suspected to have FA, SPT excluded the diagnosis. This helped the pediatrician and parents to reintroduce the food and avoid potential nutrient deficiencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diagnosis of perioperative anaphylaxis is often challenging. This study describes the utility of a newly developed tool for identifying patients with a high possibility of anaphylaxis, and aimed to investigate the frequency of anaphylaxis with each drug during the perioperative period in Japan. This study included patients with anaphylaxis of Grade 2 or higher severity during general anaesthesia at 42 facilities across Japan in 2019 and 2020. We developed and adopted a unique objective evaluation tool yielding a composite score for diagnosing anaphylaxis, which includes the results of skin tests and basophil activation tests, and clinical scores for perioperative anaphylaxis. The number of cases using each drug and the total number of anaphylaxis cases were investigated to calculate the frequency of anaphylaxis. General anaesthesia was performed in 218 936 cases, which included 55 patients with suspected perioperative anaphylaxis. The developed composite score diagnosed 43 of them with a high probability of anaphylaxis. The causative agent was identified in 32 cases. Plasma histamine levels showed high diagnostic accuracy for anaphylaxis. The top causative agents were rocuronium (10 cases in 210 852 patients, 0.005%), sugammadex (7 cases in 150 629 patients, 0.005%), and cefazolin (7 cases in 106 005 patients, 0.007%). We developed a composite tool to diagnose anaphylaxis, and found that the combination of tryptase levels, skin testing, and basophil activation testing results and clinical score improved the certainty of anaphylaxis diagnosis. The incidence of perioperative anaphylaxis in our study was 1 in about 5000 general anaesthesia cases. UMIN000035350. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Food allergy (FA) is being increasingly recognized in children. Correct identification of a food allergen gives the opportunity to eliminate the offending food, thus reducing allergy-associated symptoms. Ruling out FA allows parents to reintroduce the nutrient excluded based on suspicion only. The objective of the study was to find the association between “parental perception of food causing allergy” and “confirmation of the allergen by skin prick tests (SPTs)” in children. We describe the profile of FA in the Indian population. METHODS: In this prospective observational study, 47 children aged 4–12 years with suspected FA were subjected to SPT. We evaluated for the association between the “parental perception of foods causing allergy in their children” and the confirmation of allergen by SPT. RESULTS: Among the 47 children, in 20 (42.5%), FA was confirmed by SPT. Common allergens identified by SPT were shrimp, milk, egg, beef, peanut, and tuna. In our study, we had reasonable agreement (kappa > 0.6) between parental suspicion of FA and positive SPT: higher association was noted with the foods mutton, beef, and shrimp. CONCLUSION: In more than half of children suspected to have FA, SPT excluded the diagnosis. This helped the pediatrician and parents to reintroduce the food and avoid potential nutrient deficiencies.

Objectives: To verify the diagnostic utility of recombinant fusion protein ESAT6-CPF10 (EC), a novel skin test reagent to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Methods: A multi-centered, double-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted from December 17, 2015, to March 2, 2018. Participants involved in this study included those with active tuberculosis (TB), suspected pulmonary TB, or non-TB pulmonary disease. Each participant received three tests simultaneously, TB-specific enzyme-linked immunospot assay (T-SPOT.TB), tuberculin skin test (TST), and EC skin test (ECST), and adverse events were reported. Results: Diagnostic accuracy was analyzed using data from 1085 protocol-compliant participants. The sensitivities of the ECST, TST, and T-SPOT.TB were 91.2% (95% CI, 89.0-93.2%), 91.4% (95% CI, 89.1-93.3%), and 92.1% (95% CI, 89.9-93.9%), respectively. The specificities of the ECST (69.7%, 95% CI, 64.5-74.5%) and T-SPOT.TB (76.1%, 95% CI, 71.2-80.5%) were significantly higher than the TST (54.4%, 95% CI, 48.9-59.7%). The agreements between ECST and TST (kappa = 0.632) and between ECST and T-SPOT.TB (kappa = 0.780) were substantial. No severe adverse event was reported. Conclusion: The diagnostic performance of the ECST was close to the T-SPOT.TB assay in the detection of TB infection and indicated good potential for clinical application in common scenarios.

This article discusses the occurrence of injection-site reactions (ISR) in patients receiving tralokinumab, a medication used to treat moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. The prevalence of ISR with tralokinumab in real-life studies was higher than in clinical trials. The article presents a case study of a 17-year-old male who experienced pruritic and painful ISR after self-injections of tralokinumab. Skin biopsy and testing ruled out an allergic reaction and suggested that incorrect injection procedure may have been the cause. Educating the patient on the correct procedure resulted in a decrease in the frequency and intensity of ISR. [Extracted from the article]

b-lactam antibiotics are the most frequently used drugs and the most common drugs that cause allergic reactions in pediatrics. The occurrence of some allergic reactions can be predicted by skin testing, especially severe adverse reactions such as anaphylactic shock. Thus, penicillin and cephalosporin skin tests are widely used to predict allergic reactions before medication in pediatrics. However, false-positive results from skin tests were more often encountered in pediatrics than in adults. In fact, many children labeled as allergic to b-lactam are not allergic to the antibiotic, leading to the use of alternative antibiotics, which are less effective and more toxic, and the increase of antibiotic resistance. There has been controversy over whether b-lactam antibiotics should be tested for skin allergies before application in children. Based on the great controversy in the implementation of b-lactam antibiotic skin tests, especially the controversial cephalosporin skin tests in pediatrics, the mechanism and reasons of anaphylaxis to b-lactam antibiotics, the significance of b-lactam antibiotic skin tests, the current state of b-lactam antibiotic skin tests at home and abroad, and the problems of domestic and international skin tests were analyzed to determine a unified standard of b-lactam antibiotic skin tests in pediatrics to prevent and decrease adverse drug reactions, avoid waste of drugs, and a large amount of manpower and material resource consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Paclitaxel is a chemotherapeutic agent used in the treatment of multiple types of malignant tumors which was discovered from the Taxus brevofilia tree. In some patients, anaphylaxis develops during the first exposure to paclitaxel, suggesting that primary sensitization may have occurred through hidden or unidentified allergens that produce cross-reactivity. Skin testing may be useful in identifying sensitization to these allergens. Atopy has also been reported in patients with hypersensitivity reactions (HSR) to paclitaxel. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between atopy and sensitization to allergens with the development of immediate HSR to paclitaxel. Methods: Skin prick tests (SPT) for environmental and food allergens were applied to 76 patients recently diagnosed with cancer. A SPT to paclitaxel was applied and if negative, an intradermal test was performed. After paclitaxel's infusion, the development of immediate HSR was observed. Results: Of 76 skin tests, 43% of patients had allergen sensitization and 57% did not. HSR occurred in 12.1% and 11.6% of each group, respectively. Five percent of patients tested positive to paclitaxel and only one had an immediate HSR. Eighty-nine percent of patients who developed an HSR had a family or personal history of atopy. Conclusions: Sensitization to environmental or food allergens does not appear to be a risk factor for the development of immediate HSR to paclitaxel, suggesting that there are other non-IgE-mediated immunologic mechanisms responsible for their development, however, a personal and family history of atopy increases 8x the risk of developing anaphylaxis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect and economic value of standardized cephalosporin injection skin test on the rationality of clinical use of antibiotics in Hospital of Chengdu Office of People’ s Government of Tibetan Autonomous Region ( hereinafter referred to as “ the hospital ”), so as to provide reference and basis for the standardized management of skin tests of cephalosporin. METHODS: Data of skin test screening, drug allergy and dressing change before and after standardized skin test for cephalosporin injection were retrospectively analyzed. Meanwhile, the economic study of standardized skin test for cephalosporin injection was carried out from the aspects of drug cost, consumable cost and nursing labor time. RESULTS: Before the standardized cephalosporin injection skin test in the hospital, the rate of skin test was as up to 95. 14%(2 782 / 2 924), the positive rate of skin test was about 2. 19%(61 / 2 782), and the incidence of allergic reaction in patients was 0. 34% ( 10 / 2 924), including 0. 03% (1 / 2 924) incidence of life-threatening severe allergic reactions. After standardizing cephalosporin skin test, the rate of skin test decreased to 15. 84%(384 / 2 424), the positive rate of skin test was 3. 91%(15 / 384), the incidence of allergic reaction decreased to 0. 29%(7 / 2 424), and all patients showed grade Ⅰ or Ⅱ allergic reactions. In terms of economy, after standardizing cephalosporin skin test, the per capita cost of skin test from the perspective of patients decreased by 70. 64% ( from 29. 50 yuan to 8. 66 yuan), and the per capita cost from the perspective of medical institutions decreased by 76. 30%( from 53. 16 yuan to 12. 60 yuan). CONCLUSIONS: Non-standard cephalosporin skin test not only cannot predict allergy, but may increase the risk of abuse of other antibiotics and lead to the neglect of allergic reactions by medical staff, and also bring unnecessary economic burden to patients, medical insurance and the whole society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaphylaxis is a potentially fatal systemic complication that can occur as a side effect of dental treatment, oral and intravenous sedation, and general anesthesia. Although anaphylaxis rarely occurs during dental treatment, once it develops, the signs and symptoms progress rapidly and may lead to upper airway obstruction, respiratory distress, cardiovascular collapse, and cardiac arrest; thus, a prompt response is critical for saving lives. When anaphylaxis develops in a dental office, it should be diagnosed and managed immediately. Based on the clinical findings, emergency medical services should be activated and epinephrine administered intramuscularly without hesitation followed by transportation to a hospital facility for further care. It is very important to establish a definitive diagnosis of anaphylaxis after emergent care to identify the causative agent and perform subsequent dental treatment without triggering a recurrence. This review aims to explain the different issues and necessary considerations in managing anaphylaxis in the office-based dental setting based on established guidelines and practical guides for treating anaphylaxis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Although chlorhexidine allergy has been shown to be mediated by immunoglobulin (Ig) E, few reports investigated the mechanism of chlorhexidine-induced anaphylaxis using basophil activation tests (BATs). Case presentation A 79-year-old man underwent cholecystectomy under general anesthesia. Anaphylaxis was diagnosed based on the clinical symptoms and high serum tryptase and histamine levels. Skin tests showed positive results only for chlorhexidine. Subsequently, BATs demonstrated that the causative agent was likely chlorhexidine. The inhibitory effect of wortmannin, an inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, on basophil activation suggested an IgE-dependent mechanism underlying chlorhexidine-induced anaphylaxis. An 89-year-old man underwent inguinal hernioplasty under general anesthesia. Anaphylaxis was diagnosed based on the clinical symptoms and high serum tryptase and histamine levels. Skin tests and BATs with wortmannin were performed, showing similar results to case 1. Conclusions BATs suggested an IgE-dependent mechanism for chlorhexidine-induced anaphylaxis and might be useful for investigating the mechanisms underlying drug-induced anaphylaxis.

• Early secretory antigenic target protein 6-culture filtrate protein 10 (EC) skin test is a phase III clinical trial. We validated its accuracy for tuberculosis infection. • We identified that the immune state was associated with the diagnostic accuracy of EC skin test. • This study enriches the clinical evidence in related EC-based skin tests. To verify the diagnostic utility of recombinant fusion protein ESAT6-CPF10 (EC), a novel skin test reagent to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. A multi-centered, double-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted from December 17, 2015, to March 2, 2018. Participants involved in this study included those with active tuberculosis (TB), suspected pulmonary TB, or non-TB pulmonary disease. Each participant received three tests simultaneously, TB-specific enzyme-linked immunospot assay (T-SPOT.TB), tuberculin skin test (TST), and EC skin test (ECST), and adverse events were reported. Diagnostic accuracy was analyzed using data from 1085 protocol-compliant participants. The sensitivities of the ECST, TST, and T-SPOT.TB were 91.2% (95% CI, 89.0-93.2%), 91.4% (95% CI, 89.1-93.3%), and 92.1% (95% CI, 89.9-93.9%), respectively. The specificities of the ECST (69.7%, 95% CI, 64.5-74.5%) and T-SPOT.TB (76.1%, 95% CI, 71.2-80.5%) were significantly higher than the TST (54.4%, 95% CI, 48.9-59.7%). The agreements between ECST and TST (kappa = 0.632) and between ECST and T-SPOT.TB (kappa = 0.780) were substantial. No severe adverse event was reported. The diagnostic performance of the ECST was close to the T-SPOT.TB assay in the detection of TB infection and indicated good potential for clinical application in common scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Immediate and delayed hypersensitivity reactions (HSR) to COVID-19 vaccines are rare adverse events that need to be prevented, diagnosed, and managed in order to guarantee adherence to the vaccination campaign. The aims of our study were to stratify the risk of HSR to COVID-19 vaccines and propose alternative strategies to complete the vaccination. Methods: 1,640 subjects were screened for vaccinal eligibility, according to national and international recommendations. Among them, we enrolled for allergy workup 152 subjects, 43 with HSR to COVID-19 vaccines and 109 at high risk of HSR to the first dose. In vivo skin tests with drugs and/or vaccines containing PEG/polysorbates were performed in all of them, using skin prick test and, when negative, intradermal tests. In a subgroup of patients resulted negative to the in vivo skin tests, the programmed dose of COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer/BioNTech) was administered in graded doses regimen, and detection of neutralizing anti-spike antibodies was performed in these patients after 4 weeks from the vaccination, using the SPIA method. Results: Skin tests for PEG/polysorbates resulted positive in only 3% (5/152) of patients, including 2 with previous HSR to COVID-19 vaccines and 3 at high risk of HSR to the first dose. Among the 147 patients with negative skin tests, 97% (143/147) were eligible for vaccination and 87% (124/143) of them received safely the programmed COVID-19 vaccine dose. Administration of graded doses of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine were well tolerated in 17 out of 18 patients evaluated; only 1 developed an HSR during the vaccination, less severe than the previous one, and all developed neutralizing anti-spike antibodies after 4 weeks with values comparable to those subjects who received the vaccine in unfractionated dose. Conclusion: On the whole, the usefulness of the skin tests for PEG/polysorbates seems limited in the diagnosis of HSR to COVID-19 vaccines. Graded doses regimen (Pfizer/BioNTech) is a safe and effective alternative strategy to complete the vaccinal course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Varicella‐zoster virus‐specific cell‐mediated immunity has been associated with the onset and severity of herpes zoster (HZ), and the administration of the HZ vaccine enhanced the immunity. However, limited data is available on the duration of cell‐mediated immunity enhancement by soluble antigen of varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) skin test. A prospective, community‐based cohort study was conducted in Shozu County, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. Repeated VZV skin tests containing inactivated VZV antigen and blood tests were performed on 365 subjects aged 60 years and older at baseline, 1, 2, and 3 years later. The differential immunity indices of VZV over time for cell‐mediated and humoral immunity were evaluated. VZV skin test reaction and ELISpot counts increased significantly at 1, 2, and 3 years later compared to the baseline. However, humoral immunity indices did not change materially over time. Soluble antigen by VZV skin test enhanced VZV‐specific cell‐mediated immunity, and it persisted for at least 1 year. In addition, the inoculation with inactivated antigens every year by VZV skin test continued to enhance VZV‐specific cell‐mediated immunity after 2 and 3 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β-lactam antibiotics are the most frequently used drugs and the most common drugs that cause allergic reactions in pediatrics. The occurrence of some allergic reactions can be predicted by skin testing, especially severe adverse reactions such as anaphylactic shock. Thus, penicillin and cephalosporin skin tests are widely used to predict allergic reactions before medication in pediatrics. However, false-positive results from skin tests were more often encountered in pediatrics than in adults. In fact, many children labeled as allergic to β-lactam are not allergic to the antibiotic, leading to the use of alternative antibiotics, which are less effective and more toxic, and the increase of antibiotic resistance. There has been controversy over whether β-lactam antibiotics should be tested for skin allergies before application in children. Based on the great controversy in the implementation of β-lactam antibiotic skin tests, especially the controversial cephalosporin skin tests in pediatrics, the mechanism and reasons of anaphylaxis to β-lactam antibiotics, the significance of β-lactam antibiotic skin tests, the current state of β-lactam antibiotic skin tests at home and abroad, and the problems of domestic and international skin tests were analyzed to determine a unified standard of β-lactam antibiotic skin tests in pediatrics to prevent and decrease adverse drug reactions, avoid waste of drugs, and a large amount of manpower and material resource consumption.

Background. Human and wild rodent infection rates with Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis are needed to differentiate transmission pathways in anthropogenically altered habitats. Methods. Human participants in northeast Brazil were tested by the leishmanin skin test (LST) and inspected for lesions/scars characteristic of American clinical leishmaniasis (ACL). Molecular (PCR/qPCR) test records of free-ranging rodents were available from a concurrent capture–mark–recapture study. Force of Infection (λ) and recovery (ρ) rates were estimated from cross-sectional and longitudinal datasets. Results. Cumulative prevalences of human LST+ves and ACL scar+ves were 0.343–0.563 (n = 503 participants) and 0.122–0.475 (n = 503), respectively. Active ACL lesions were not detected. Annual rates of LST conversions were λ = 0.03–0.15 and ρ = 0.02–0.07. The probability of infection was independent of sex and associated with increasing age in addition to the period of exposure. Rodents (n = 596 individuals of 6 species) showed high rates of exclusively asymptomatic infection (λ = 0.222/month) and potential infectiousness to the sand fly vector. Spatially concurrent rodent and household human infection prevalences were correlated. Conclusions. Human exposure to L. (V.) braziliensis continues to be high despite the substantial drop in reported ACL cases in recent years. Spill-over transmission risk to humans from rodents in peridomestic habitats is likely supported by a rodent infection/transmission corridor linking houses, plantations, and the Atlantic Forest.

INTRODUCTION: Allergic rhinitis is a global health problem but often neglected and its burden, underestimated. Knowledge on its epidemiology is important for its diagnosis and treatment. Hence, this study was conducted to assess the prevalence and pattern of various inhalant allergens among allergic rhinitis patients in Vellore district. METHODS: Cross sectional study was conducted among 300 adult patients diagnosed with allergic rhinitis in Vellore district, between July - December 2019. Detailed history with a structured questionnaire & skin prick test after informed consent was done. The common inhalant (house dust, cotton dust, aspergillus, pollens, parthenium and cockroach) were tested. Chi square test was done and P

IntroductionThe tuberculin skin test has significant limitations for use in individuals vaccinated with BCG. The presence in the genome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis of the RDI region, which is absent in the genome of Mycobacterium bovis BCG and most non-tuberculous mycobacteria, made it possible to develop new skin tests, which include a skin test with a recombinant tuberculosis allergen [RTA (Diaskintest®, JSC Generium, Russia)]. Diaskintest has shown high diagnostic performance in clinical trials and in conditions of high prevalence of tuberculosis infection. In 2021, the Russia was excluded from the WHO list of high TB burden countries, which makes relevant an assessment of the specificity of the RTA test under conditions of low epidemiologic risk for tuberculosis to confirm the high specificity of the test.Study objectiveTo assess the specificity of Diaskintest in the regions of the Russian Federation with low epidemiologic risk for tuberculosis.MethodsA multicenter, open-label, prospective study was conducted, which included 150 healthy volunteers aged 18–30 years old, vaccinated with BCG, who were not at risk of tuberculosis, from regions with low epidemiologic risk (Oryol region, Ryazan region, and Arkhangelsk region). During the study, 4 visits were scheduled for each participant: [Visit 0 (screening), Visit 1, Visit 2 (in 72 h) and Visit 3 (in 28 days)]. All participants, who excluded active and latent tuberculosis infection, underwent a test with RTA. To assess the safety of RTA tests, all systemic and local adverse events that occurred during 28 days were recorded. The trial was filed in the NIH clinical trials database ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05203068).ResultsIn individuals with a negative T-SPOT.TB test, the specificity of the RTA test was 97% (95% CI: 92–99%) with a cut-off of >0 mm. The study findings confirm data 2009: 100.00 (95% CI: 94–100). When evaluating the safety of the RTA test during 28 days of follow-up, the participants did not report local and systemic adverse reactions that had a causal relationship with the RTA test.ConclusionDiaskintest is highly specific and safe, therefore it is a valuable tool as a screening test for early detection of tuberculosis.

Background: Although chlorhexidine allergy has been shown to be mediated by immunoglobulin (Ig) E, few reports investigated the mechanism of chlorhexidine-induced anaphylaxis using basophil activation tests (BATs). Case presentation: A 79-year-old man underwent cholecystectomy under general anesthesia. Anaphylaxis was diagnosed based on the clinical symptoms and high serum tryptase and histamine levels. Skin tests showed positive results only for chlorhexidine. Subsequently, BATs demonstrated that the causative agent was likely chlorhexidine. The inhibitory effect of wortmannin, an inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, on basophil activation suggested an IgE-dependent mechanism underlying chlorhexidine-induced anaphylaxis. An 89-year-old man underwent inguinal hernioplasty under general anesthesia. Anaphylaxis was diagnosed based on the clinical symptoms and high serum tryptase and histamine levels. Skin tests and BATs with wortmannin were performed, showing similar results to case 1. Conclusions: BATs suggested an IgE-dependent mechanism for chlorhexidine-induced anaphylaxis and might be useful for investigating the mechanisms underlying drug-induced anaphylaxis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Piperacillin is an antibiotic that belongs to the ureidopenicillin family. Piperacillintazobactam provides cover against gram-positive, gram-negative bacteria and some bacteria of anaerobic nature. It is an extended-spectrum antibiotic and is used along with tazobactam which is an inhibitor of beta-lactamase. The main objective of our research was to identify the hypersensitivity reactions of piperacillin-tazobactam in pharmaceuticals factory and office workers. METHODOLOGY: A Cross-sectional study was conducted at Stallion Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) Ltd located at Sundar Industrial Estate Lahore, Pakistan, from March to April 2018, after approval from the institutional research committee. All the workers, including factory workers and office workers at Stallion Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) Ltd were included in this study. Data was collected from each respondent by immediate-type skin testing. Data analysis was done by SPSS version 25, the demographic data was evaluated by descriptive statistics, Fisher Exact test was used for comparison and p≤0.05 was taken as significant. RESULTS: The results of the study presented that hypersensitivity reaction was present in (7.5%) of males and (3.8%) of females. It was also observed that (8.8%) of factory workers had hypersensitivity reactions when they are gone through skin tests, and only (2.5%) of office workers were skin test positive. From the above results (11.2%) of all the respondents developed hypersensitivity reactions and (88.8%) showed no reaction when they were gone through skin tests, which contain 0.1 ml of piperacillin and tazobactam. Fisher exact test was applied, and results showed no significant difference between hypersensitivity reactions among factory and office workers as the p-value was 01. CONCLUSION: Hypersensitivity reaction to piperacillin-tazobactam was minimal in the factory & office workers, and this was not significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Autologous serum (ASST) and plasma (APST) skin testing confirm autoreactivity in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). Whole blood autohemotherapy has been used. Plasma and even whole blood may be used instead of serum with relatively quicker preparation and cheaper method especially using the latter in centers with limited resources. Purpose: The purpose of the study is to determine if similar intradermal skin reactions can be observed when using either serum, plasma, or whole blood in autologous skin tests and to determine factors associated with positive tests and wheal diameter. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of chronic urticaria patients in a dermatology clinic. Tests were performed according to EAACI/GA2 LEN Task Force recommendations. Urticaria Activity Score over 7 days (UAS7) was assessed. Statistical analyses included Chi-square, Mann–Whitney U, Spearman's, and Wilcoxon rank tests. Results: Twenty-six (77%) females and 8 (24%) males mean age 34 (26–42) years participated. ASST, APST and autologous whole blood for skin testing (AWBST) positivity rates were 24%, 29% and 27%, respectively (P = 0.86). 13 (38%) had at least 1 positive test; all tests were negative in 21 (62%). All tests were positive in 7 (21%), 3 (23%) were positive APST alone, 2 (15%) AWBST, 1 (8%) ASST. Pretest UAS7 was higher with those with test positive (P = 0.04). Test results were unaffected by age, gender, disease duration, atopy, anti-nuclear antibody, and thyroid status. Wheal diameter correlated with thyroid-stimulating hormone (P = 0.04). Conclusion: Autoreactivity rates were similar with ASST, APST, and AWBST. Positive tests were associated with severe CSU. Autologous whole blood may be a simpler and less costly alternative to plasma and serum for autoreactivity skin testing in patients with chronic urticaria.

Introduction. In the context of a decrease in the tension of the epidemic situation on tuberculosis in Russia, it remains relevant to search for new ways to increase the effectiveness of preventive anti-tuberculosis measures among children and teenagers, taking into account an integrated approach to assessing all risk factors for tuberculosis in various age groups of the child population.Objective. Tо study the complex characteristics of groups at increased risk of tuberculosis among children of different ages who have positive results of a skin test with a recombinant tuberculous allergen (АТR).Materials and methods. The study retrospectively included 392 patients aged 2–17 years with a positive ATR test result. The рatients were randomized by age into 3 groups: in the 1st group there were 87 children 2–7 years old, in the 2nd group 182 children aged 8–14 years were included, in the 3rd group included 121 patients 15–17 years. The children did not have clinical and radiological signs of active tuberculosis and were HIV-negativ.Result. Among children and adolescents with a positive result of the test with ATR, social risk factors for developing tuberculosis (unfavorable living conditions, lack of permanent employment in 86.3% of parents) were determined. It was found that children living in families with low social status were dominated by contact with patients with multidrug resistance of the pathogen (MDR-TB), more than half of children (53.1%) had comorbidities. In 13.3% of children, small calcifications were detected in the lungs, in the intrathoracic lymph nodes.Conclusion. Among children 2–7 years old with positive results of the test with ATR, a complex of risk factors for the development of tuberculosis prevails: low material security in every second family, alcohol and drug dependence of parents in every third family, contact with MDR-TB patients in 56.5% of children, high incidence of concomitant pathology (in 67.4% of children).

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Piperacillin is an antibiotic that belongs to the ureidopenicillin family. Piperacillin-tazobactam provides cover against gram-positive, gram-negative bacteria and some bacteria of anaerobic nature. It is an extended-spectrum antibiotic and is used along with tazobactam which is an inhibitor of beta-lactamase. The main objective of our research was to identify the hypersensitivity reactions of piperacillin-tazobactam in pharmaceuticals factory and office workers. METHODOLOGY: A Cross-sectional study was conducted at Stallion Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) Ltd located at Sundar Industrial Estate Lahore, Pakistan, from March to April 2018, after approval from the institutional research committee. All the workers, including factory workers and office workers at Stallion Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) Ltd were included in this study. Data was collected from each respondent by immediate-type skin testing. Data analysis was done by SPSS version 25, the demographic data was evaluated by descriptive statistics, Fisher Exact test was used for comparison and p≤0.05 was taken as significant. RESULTS: The results of the study presented that hypersensitivity reaction was present in (7.5%) of males and (3.8%) of females. It was also observed that (8.8%) of factory workers had hypersensitivity reactions when they are gone through skin tests, and only (2.5%) of office workers were skin test positive. From the above results (11.2%) of all the respondents developed hypersensitivity reactions and (88.8%) showed no reaction when they were gone through skin tests, which contain 0.1 ml of piperacillin and tazobactam. Fisher exact test was applied, and results showed no significant difference between hypersensitivity reactions among factory and office workers as the p-value was 01. CONCLUSION: Hypersensitivity reaction to piperacillin-tazobactam was minimal in the factory & office workers, and this was not significant.

Alemtuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting the CD52 antigen on lymphocyte surfaces. The intravenous administration of alemtuzumab provokes the depletion of lymphocytes by antibody-dependent and complement-mediated cellular cytotoxicity. Resulting cytotoxicity leads to 'first-dose infusion-related reactions in more than 90% of the patients, fewer than 3% being severe cases. We present the first successful modified rapid drug desensitization (RDD) protocol to alemtuzumab in an active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patient. The forty-year-old female patient had an immunologically-mediated mixed-type (co-occurring IgE-mediated and cytokine release syndromes) hypersensitivity reaction (HSR) verified with a drug skin test. As the patient had severe HSR and there was no other option to treat RRMS at that time; two courses of 12 mg alemtuzumab with one-year intervals were administrated successfully using the modified 12-step intravenous RDD protocol. By experience, RDD is known as a safe and effective therapy option allowing alemtuzumab treatment targeted for the aforementioned type of MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Drug hypersensitivity is an important issue encountered by clinicians during clinical practice in Turkey and in the world. Any drug used for diagnosis or treatment has the potential to cause hypersensitivity reactions. The aim of the present study was to review the distribution of drugs reported to cause hypersensitivity reactions and to determine the distribution of tests and test results among patients that presented to the adult allergy and immunology outpatient clinic with immediate-type drug hypersensitivity in the Malatya province. Materials and Methods: The study included adult patients who were admitted with immediate-type drug hypersensitivity (allergic and/or non-allergic) between October 2017 and October 2020 and underwent testing for drugs. Age, sex, atopic diseases (asthma, allergic rhinitis, urticaria, eczema), culprit drug(s), drug reaction types, time of reaction onset, and skin and drug provocation test results were evaluated. Results: Of the 107 patients included, 83 (77.6%) were female and 24 (22.4%) were male. The mean age was 40.74 ± 11.28 years. There was a history of drug hypersensitivity to antibiotics in 44 patients (41.1%) and analgesics in 56 patients (52.3%). Urticaria and/or angioedema were the most common reactions to culprit drugs. Overall, 148 tests for drug hypersensitivity were performed, and the positivity rate was 6.1%. Conclusion: Analgesics and antibiotics were the most common causative agents in patients presenting to allergy outpatient clinics with drug allergy, and reactions occurred even with alternative agents. Thus, patients reporting drug reactions should undergo drug tests before physicians recommend drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the impact of pharmacy driven penicillin allergy assessments on de-labeling penicillin allergies and antibiotic streamlining opportunities for hospitalized patients. Design: Multi-center, retrospective case-series study. Setting: A health system of 4 non-teaching hospitals. Participants: Patients aged 18 years and older with a physician order for a pharmacist penicillin allergy assessment. Exclusion criteria consisted of patients with anaphylaxis or a type II penicillin allergy, anaphylaxis of any cause within 4 weeks, refusal of penicillin allergy skin test (PAST), antihistamine use within 24 hours, penicillin intolerance, immunosuppression or immunosuppressive medications, or skin conditions that could interfere with PAST. Interventions: The primary endpoint evaluated the number of de-labeled penicillin allergies after pharmacists provided penicillin allergy assessments. Secondary endpoints evaluated the percent of patients with antibiotics deescalated to beta-lactam antibiotics and classification of notable interventions made by pharmacists. Measurements and Main Results: There were 35 patients who met inclusion criteria. Twenty-four patients underwent both penicillin allergy skin testing and oral (PO) amoxicillin challenge. Five patients had allergies de-labeled only after a pharmacist interview. Four patients received only the PO amoxicillin challenge and 2 patients received only PAST. Penicillin allergies were de-labeled from the electronic health record (EHR) in 31 (89%) patients despite all testing negative for a penicillin allergy from PAST or a PO amoxicillin challenge. Four patients had the allergy re-added to the chart on subsequent admissions. No patients experienced a reaction from PAST, PO amoxicillin challenge, or subsequent beta-lactam antibiotics. Twenty-eight (80%) patients had their antibiotic therapy changed as a result of the allergy assessment. Seventeen patients were de-escalated onto beta-lactam antibiotics and aztreonam was stopped in 6 patients. Conclusion: Results from this study suggests that pharmacists expanding their scope of practice with PAST is a safe and effective allergy de-labeling tool. Pharmacist-driven penicillin allergy assessments could provide antibiotic cost savings and avoid aztreonam use. The study supports the need to emphasize education for patients and caretakers regarding allergy testing results to avoid relabeling in future hospital visits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotics are one of the most frequently prescribed drugs. Unfortunately, they also are the most common cause for self-reported drug allergy, limiting the use of effective therapies. However, evidence shows that more than 90% of patients labeled as allergic to antibiotics are not allergic. Importantly, the label of antibiotic allergy, whether real or not, constitutes a major public health problem as it directly impacts antimicrobial stewardship: it has been associated with broad-spectrum antibiotic use, often resulting in the emergence of bacterial resistance. Therefore, an accurate diagnosis is crucial for de-labeling patients who claim to be allergic but are not really allergic. This review presents allergy methods for achieving successful antibiotic allergy de-labeling. Patient clinical history is often inaccurately reported, thus not being able to de-label most patients. In vitro testing offers a complementary approach but it shows limitations. Immunoassay for quantifying specific IgE is the most used one, although it gives low sensitivity and is limited to few betalactams. Basophil activation test is not validated and not available in all centers. Therefore, true de-labeling still relies on in vivo tests including drug provocation and/or skin tests, which are not risk-exempt and require specialized healthcare professionals for results interpretation and patient management. Moreover, differences on the pattern of antibiotic consumption cause differences in the diagnostic approach among different countries. A multidisciplinary approach is recommended to reduce the risks associated with the reported penicillin allergy label. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/hypothesis: Insulin allergy is a rare but significant clinical challenge. We aimed to develop a management workflow by (1) validating clinical criteria to guide diagnosis, based on a retrospective cohort, and (2) assessing the diagnostic performance of confirmatory tests, based on a case–control study. Methods: In the retrospective cohort, patients with suspected insulin allergy were classified into three likelihood categories according to the presence of all (likely insulin allergy; 26/52, 50%), some (possible insulin allergy; 9/52, 17%) or none (unlikely insulin allergy; 17/52, 33%) of four clinical criteria: (1) recurrent local or systemic immediate or delayed hypersensitivity reactions; (2) reactions elicited by each injection; (3) reactions centred on the injection sites; and (4) reactions observed by the investigator (i.e. in response to an insulin challenge test). All underwent intradermal reaction (IDR) tests. A subsequent case–control study assessed the diagnostic performance of IDR, skin prick and serum anti-insulin IgE tests in ten clinically diagnosed insulin allergy patients, 24 insulin-treated non-allergic patients and 21 insulin-naive patients. Results: In the retrospective cohort, an IDR test validated the clinical diagnosis in 24/26 (92%), 3/9 (33%) and 0/14 (0%) likely, possible and unlikely insulin allergy patients, respectively. In the case–control study, an IDR test was 80% sensitive and 100% specific and identified the index insulin(s). The skin prick and IgE tests had a marginal diagnostic value. Patients with IDR-confirmed insulin allergy were treated using a stepwise strategy. Conclusions/interpretation: Subject to validation, clinical likelihood criteria can effectively guide diabetologists towards an insulin allergy diagnosis before undertaking allergology tests. An IDR test shows the best diagnostic performance. A progressive management strategy can subsequently be implemented. Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion is ultimately required in most patients. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01407640. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening systemic allergic reaction that can result in fatal outcomes if not promptly and appropriately treated. The diagnosis of the cause of anaphylaxis during anesthesia can be challenging due to the complexity of the perioperative environment. Propofol-induced perioperative anaphylaxis is uncommon, occurring in perioperative anaphylactic shock cases. We present a case of perioperative anaphylactic shock in a patient with no known allergies who had been exposed to the same anesthetic agents, propofol, rocuronium, and remifentanil, three times previously without incident. Cardiac arrest occurred 50 min after induction, which showed pulseless electrical activity with decreasing saturation without bronchial spasm and skin erythema or edema. After prompt and appropriate management including cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the patient recovered without complications. The diagnosis was confirmed as propofol-induced anaphylactic shock by an elevated serum tryptase level, measured in a timely manner, and by skin tests (skin prick test and intradermal test), which revealed strong hypersensitivity to propofol. This case is notable for the cardiovascular collapse that occurred without respiratory symptoms or skin manifestations, as well as the delayed onset of anaphylaxis (>50 min). This case underscores the importance of vigilance for anaphylaxis, even with repeated exposure to previously well-tolerated drugs, as sensitization can lead to more severe reactions. It also highlights the potential for anaphylaxis to occur outside the acute phase and without typical clinical features.

Limitations in diagnostic test performance are one of the major challenges hampering the eradication of bovine tuberculosis (bTB). Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are considered one of the main causes of non-specific reactions in the intradermal tuberculin test, the most widely used bTB diagnostic test. To determine the role of NTMs in bTB misdiagnosis in Spain, an experimental study including the NTM species most commonly found in bTB-positive animals from bTB-free farms in the country (M. avium subsp. avium (Maa), "Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis" (Mah), M. bourgelatii, M. intermedium, M. kansasii and M. nonchromogenicum) was carried out on guinea pigs and cattle. First, guinea pigs were sensitized with the selected NTMs, and six weeks post-sensitization four antigen mixtures (bovine-PPD, avian-PPD, P22 and ESAT6-CFP10) were inoculated intradermally and their effect was measured 24- and 48-h post-inoculation. Larger erythematous reactions were observed in guinea pigs sensitized with Mah, M. kansasii, and Maa, with significant differences in the reactions measured at the bovine-PPD inoculation site for the two first bacteria compared with other NTMs. The sensitization process was repeated in cattle, and five months post-sensitization the same antigen mixtures were inoculated in the cervical region and responses were measured at 48- and 72-h post-inoculation. A significantly higher increase in the skinfold thickness measured at the bovine-PPD inoculation site was observed in calves sensitized with Mah, Maa, M. intermedium and M. kansasii. These results demonstrate that certain NTM species may play a more significant role in bTB diagnostic interferences and show that results obtained in guinea pig and bovine models do not always coincide., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Vancomycin infusion reaction (VIR), reportedly mediated through Mas-Related G Protein-Coupled Receptor-X2, is the primary vancomycin-induced immediate drug reaction. Clinically, distinguishing the underlying drug-induced immediate drug reaction mechanisms is crucial for future treatment strategies, including drug restriction, re-administration, and pretreatment considerations. However, the lack of validated diagnostic tests makes this challenging, often leading to unnecessary drug restriction., Objective: To determine whether intradermal tests (IDTs) and, separately, the basophil activation test (BAT) differentiate VIR from vancomycin-tolerant subjects., Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of vancomycin-exposed adults with and without a history of VIR. Data on demographics, allergy-related comorbidities, history of vancomycin exposures, and VIR characteristics were collected. IDT with vancomycin was performed. IDT dose-response EC 50 , IDT-related local symptoms, and BAT results were compared between groups., Results: A total of 11 VIR and 10 vancomycin-tolerant subjects were enrolled. The most reported VIR symptoms were pruritus (82%), flushing (82%), hives (46%), angioedema (27%), and dyspnea (19%). The IDT dose-response mean EC 50 was 328 μg/mL (95% CI, 296-367) in the VIR versus 1166 μg/mL (95% CI, 1029-1379) in the tolerant group (P < .0001). All VIR subjects reported IDT-related local pruritus compared with 60% of tolerant subjects (P = .0185). The %CD63 + basophils were consistently less than 2%, without significant differences between groups (P < .54)., Conclusions: Variations in skin test methodologies could help identify other immediate drug reaction mechanisms beyond IgE. This skin test protocol holds the potential for identifying VIR, particularly in cases where patients have received multiple drugs while BAT is insufficient. Future studies will validate and delineate its predictive value, assessing the risk of VIR., (Copyright © 2024 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)