Caregiver perceptions of β-lactam allergy testing for serum sickness-like reactions.

Background

Beta-lactam allergy (BLA) labels are common in children but often disproven when formally evaluated. This diagnostic discrepancy leads to higher health-care costs and increased adverse outcomes. Beta-lactam antibiotics are associated with a variety of adverse reactions in children. A serum sickness-like reaction (SSLR) is one adverse reaction that is complex in its diagnosis and management due to its heterogeneous clinical presentation and poorly understood mechanism. This unclear presentation and diagnostic criteria can be confusing for patients, families, and health-care professionals, leading to allergy evaluation hesitancy. With updated drug practice parameters that support the utility of oral drug challenges for patients with SSLRs related to beta-lactams, barriers remain for these patients to seek allergy evaluation.

Objectives

The objective was to assess caregiver perspectives on BLA delabeling and identify barriers to drug challenge testing in children with a history of SSLRs.

Methods

We conducted an 18-question telephone survey with 14 caregivers of children with a history of beta-lactam-associated SSLR. The survey assessed attitudes toward allergy delabeling, understanding of challenge testing, and perceived barriers to testing.

Results

Most caregivers demonstrated an understanding of the importance of allergy delabeling; however, the comfort level with challenge testing varied, depending on the setting, provider, and perceived risk of SSLR recurrence. Of the caregivers, 62.4% reported feeling comfortable with their child's pediatrician performing the testing. When asked about their concerns about testing, nearly 50% of caregivers expressed concern about the possibility of a repeated SSLR.

Conclusion

The overall positive attitude toward BLA testing, especially in a primary care setting, highlights an opportunity to make testing more accessible for patients. However, the unpredictable nature of SSLRs seems to contribute to caregiver reservations about pursuing testing for their child. To mitigate this, targeted education from health-care professionals, such as physicians, advanced practice providers, and nurses, may reduce caregiver hesitancy and facilitate BLA delabeling for patients with SSLRs.