Front-line nurses improve penicillin assessment, management

Houston Methodist’s front-line nurses are improving the assessment and management of penicillin allergies. Nurses ask patients labeled as allergic to penicillin a set of questions to identify those with little to no risk of a true penicillin allergy. The Centers for Disease Control says only about 1% of the population is truly allergic to penicillin, and most people labeled as being allergic likely can tolerate the medication safely. However, about 10% of the population reports being allergic to penicillin. The screening tool identifies those patients initially thought to be penicillin-allergic who can receive the medicine safely, giving them immediate access to life-saving medications and decreasing hospital stays, and possibly deaths. (Newswise news release, 3/19/25)