Systematic review of professional liability when prescribing β-lactams for patients with a known penicillin allergy

Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2018 Nov;121(5):530-536. doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2018.03.010. Epub 2018 Mar 15.

Abstract

Objective: To describe medical negligence and malpractice cases in which a patient with a known penicillin allergy received a β-lactam and experienced an adverse reaction related to the β-lactam.

Data sources: Lexis-Nexus, Westlaw, and Google Scholar were searched.

Study selections: Medical negligence and malpractice cases were eligible for inclusion if they met the following criteria: the plaintiff had a known penicillin allergy, received a β-lactam, and experienced an adverse event. All United States federal and state cases were eligible.

Results: Twenty-seven unique cases met the inclusion criteria. Eighteen cases involved the receipt of a penicillin-based antibiotic; of these cases with a known legal outcome, the plaintiff (patient or representative) prevailed or settled in 3 cases and defendants (providers) prevailed in 7 cases. Seven cases involved the receipt of a cephalosporin; of these cases with a known legal outcome, the plaintiff settled with physicians before trial in 1 case and defendants prevailed in 3 cases. Two cases involved the receipt of a carbapenem. Defendants prevailed in one case and the legal outcome of the other case is unknown. In cases in which the defense successfully moved for summary judgment, judges cited a lack of scientific evidence demonstrating a cephalosporin or carbapenem was contraindicated for a patient with a penicillin allergy.

Conclusion: The cases with published legal outcomes found limited professional liability for clinicians who prescribed cephalosporins or carbapenems to a patient with a known penicillin allergy. These results may decrease the litigation fears of practitioners and risk managers within health care systems.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Cephalosporins / adverse effects
  • Drug Hypersensitivity / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Liability, Legal*
  • Malpractice / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Malpractice / statistics & numerical data*
  • Penicillins / adverse effects
  • Physicians / legislation & jurisprudence
  • United States
  • beta-Lactams / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Cephalosporins
  • Penicillins
  • beta-Lactams