Penicillin anaphylaxis: fatality in elderly patients without a history of penicillin allergy.

Two anaphylactic fatalities following penicillin administration are reported. Neither of the two patients had a history of previous penicillin allergy. Both were elderly and suffered from active cardiovascular disease. Penicillin skin testing may be indicated in some high-risk patients requiring parenteral penicillin, despite a negative history for penicillin allergy.