Outcome of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) challenge in previously reported sulfa antibiotic allergic patients

Sulfa antibiotics are the drug of choice for treatment and prophylaxis of several infections. Unfortunately, about 7% of people exposed to them have adverse reactions ranging from mild rash and nausea, to life-threatening reactions like Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/Toxic Epidermal Necrosis (SJS/TEN)I. Sulfa antibiotics are often avoided in patients with any reported sulfa allergy, irrespective of whether the initial reaction was to an antibiotic or non-antibiotic sulfa drug. This leads to the use of less effective, second-line antibiotics.
Source: Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Tags: Letters Source Type: research