Pharmacy-Led β-Lactam Allergy Interview (BLAI) Reduces Duration of Fluoroquinolones Within a Community Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Patients with reported β-lactam allergies often receive broad-spectrum antimicrobials and have been shown to experience a variety of negative health consequences, such as increased mortality, costs, readmission, and adverse reactions. Current literature focuses on β-lactam allergy skin testing but lacks evidence on β-lactam allergy interviews (BLAI) when skin testing is unavailable.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to test the impact of a pharmacy-led BLAI on duration of fluoroquinolones at a community hospital.

METHODS: A quasi-experimental design with a prospective cohort design and historical control group was used to assess patients with reported penicillin (PCN) allergies in a community hospital. The primary outcome was duration of fluoroquinolones before and after implementation of BLAI. Secondary outcomes included length of stay (LOS), percentage of patients switched to a β-lactam antibiotic, percentage of antimicrobial stewardship recommendations made/accepted, and discrepancies between allergy in medical record and interview-reported allergy. Nonparametric continuous data and medians were evaluated by Mann-Whitney U.

RESULTS: A total of 80 patients were included in the study (43 in the control group and 37 in the prospective group). Fluoroquinolone duration was reduced after the implementation of BLAI (3.7 vs 2.7 days, P = 0.027). In all, 49% of patients in the prospective group were switched to a β-lactam antibiotic after BLAI, with no allergic reactions, adverse effects, or impact on LOS. Conclusion and Relevance: BLAI resulted in a significant reduction in fluoroquinolone duration in patients with PCN allergies and may represent a safe and effective option for institutions lacking skin-testing capabilities.