The Immediate and Delayed Maximal Nonirritating Skin Testing Concentrations of β-Lactam Antibiotics

Alexei Gonzalez-Estrada, Ismael Carrillo-Martin, W. Tatiana Garzon-Siatoya, Hajara Joundi, Dan Morgenstern-Kaplan, J. Ross Renew, H. Ross Powers, Jared D. Nelson, Wendelyn Bosch, Kevin L. Epps, Aurora Gonzalez-Estrada, Susan Kinate, Matthew A. Rank, Christine R.F. Rukasin, Gerald W. Volcheck, Miguel Park

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: Maximal skin testing (ST) nonirritant concentrations (NICs) are consistent for penicillin and aminopenicillin among guidelines. However, there is variability among guidelines for maximal ST NICs of cephalosporins. Objective: To determine maximal immediate and delayed ST NICs of 15 β-lactams in β-lactam-tolerant and β-lactam-naïve participants. Methods: We performed a single-center, nonrandomized prospective study between September 2019 and January 2022 in adult participants. Participants received skin prick testing (SPT) and intradermal test (IDT) injections at 6 increasing concentrations of 1 or more β-lactams. A concentration was considered irritant when more than 5% of participants had a positive test. A positive test was defined as a wheal ≥3 mm compared with negative control accompanied by a ≥5 mm flare for SPT/IDT and induration ≥5 mm with associated erythema at 48 hours for delayed readings (dIDT). Sensitivity analyses using 3 alternative IDT positive criteria were conducted. Results: A total of 747 participants with a median age of 64 (interquartile range: 54-72) years (52% male, 85% White, and 92% non-Hispanic) underwent 20,858 skin tests. All undiluted SPT concentrations were nonirritant. We found the following maximal IDT/dIDT NICs (mg/mL): ampicillin (41.6/125), ampicillin-sulbactam (93.8/187.5), aztreonam (6.3/25), cefazolin (55/165), cefepime (35/140), cefoxitin (45/90), ceftaroline (7.5/15), ceftriaxone (58.3/175), cefuroxime (55/110), ertapenem (16.6/50), imipenem-cilastin (6.3/25), meropenem (8.3/25), nafcillin (31.3/62.5), oxacillin (20.9/83.5), and piperacillin-tazobactam (112.5/225). dIDTs were almost all completely nonirritant close to or at undiluted concentrations. There were no differences when we applied 3 IDT positivity criteria to our raw data. Conclusions: Our results suggest that SPTs with undiluted stock β-lactam antibiotic concentrations are nonirritant. Compared with previously published nonirritant concentrations, we propose a 2- to 50-fold increase to the maximal IDT and dIDT NICs of 15 β-lactam antibiotics. When performing dIDTs, a higher concentration should be used rather than the same IDT concentration.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3016-3024.e14
JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice
Volume12
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2024

Keywords

  • Ampicillin
  • Ampicillin-sulbactam
  • Antibacterial agents
  • Aztreonam
  • Cefazolin
  • Cefepime
  • Cefoxitin
  • Ceftaroline
  • Cefuroxime
  • Delayed intradermal readings
  • Drug hypersensitivity
  • Ertapenem
  • Imipenem-cilastin
  • Intradermal testing
  • Meropenem
  • Nafcillin
  • Nonirritant concentrations
  • Oxacillin
  • Penicillin hypersensitivity
  • Piperacillin-tazobactam
  • Prick testing
  • Skin testing

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy

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