An estimated 10% of Americans report having an allergy to penicillin, but less than 1% of people are actually allergic to the common antibiotic, medical experts say.

While some might consider that statistic an interesting bit of trivia, there is one population in particular who would benefit from knowing whether or not they are truly allergic to penicillin: pregnant women.

Women who are pregnant often need antibiotic medications before, during, or after delivery. And if someone is allergic to penicillin (a first-line antibiotic medication that targets a narrow but common list of bacteria), they will need a different, broader antibiotic. These broader medications are more likely to kill off protective bacteria, contributing to the growing global problem of antibiotic resistance.

And on an individual level, patients who are flagged as having penicillin allergies in their electronic medical record—and thus, are given a broader antibiotic—may have higher C-section rates and stay longer in the hospital. Their babies may also be at higher risk for a potentially dangerous infection during delivery if their mothers are colonized with group B Streptococcus (strep), a bacteria that is naturally found in the digestive and lower reproductive tracts of some men and women.

Read more...