Drug allergy project

Antibiotic allergy program

The National Allergy Council is developing a program to improve the management of antibiotic allergies in Australia.

Antibiotic allergies are commonly reported, even though only one in 10 people reporting an antibiotic allergy are truly allergic. Patients who report an allergy to penicillin in particular, have more recurrent infections, longer hospital stays, more re-admissions and poorer health outcomes. It is important to confirm whether a person is truly allergic to antibiotics for both safety reasons and enabling access to appropriate antibiotics. People who are confirmed as being allergic will need to continue to avoid the antibiotic. While people who are not allergic will enable them to access tier one antibiotics and improve their health outcomes.

The National Allergy Council is developing an antibiotic allergy communication strategy to educate healthcare professionals and consumers. We will also develop helpful resources to support healthcare professionals and consumers in managing antibiotic allergies. ASCIA as the peak medical body for allergy in Australia has developed guidelines to support this project in partnership with the National Allergy Council, the National Allergy Centre of Excellence and Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia.

To help inform the National Allergy Council’s work, we are conducting online focus (discussion) group sessions (the Communicating about Antibiotic Allergy Study) during July 2025. Approval to conduct this research has been provided by the University of Western Australia, in accordance with its ethics review and approval procedures. 

Standardising drug allergy management

Many people are considered to be allergic to one or more drugs, most commonly antibiotics, usually because they have had adverse symptoms or a reaction whilst taking the drug. In some cases, this is valid, and the drug should be avoided. However, in many cases the person is not truly allergic because the symptoms were not actually caused by the drug, but rather the illness they had at the time (e.g. virus). Furthermore, the perception of allergy might be based on childhood reactions that are no longer relevant, or on entirely spurious information (e.g. the wrong drug, or a family member with allergy).

Confirmation or clarification of drug allergy reduces costs by allowing basic, safe and cheaper drugs (particularly antibiotics) to be used in those who are not allergic, which might otherwise be avoided unnecessarily. It prevents complications, results in shorter hospital stays, reduces readmissions and reduces the rate of bacterial antimicrobial resistance (in the case of antibiotics) in the community.

Developing minimum standards will help to standardise clinical practice and optimise patient safety.

Content updated July 2025.