Comparing pharmacists versus allergists in low-risk penicillin allergy delabelling: The Hong Kong Penicillin Allergy Pharmacist Initiative (HK-PAPI)

Background: Mislabelled penicillin allergies are associated with a myriad of adverse outcomes and development of anti-microbial resistance. With the overwhelming need for specialist allergy services, pharmacist initiatives such as the Hong Kong Penicillin Allergy Pharmacist Initiative (HK-PAPI) have...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: James K.Y. Hooi, MBChB, Marshall C.H. Low, BPharm, Jonathan C.L. To, BPharm, Hugo W.F. Mak, MBBS, Mandy M. Choi, BPharm, Chris C.P. Tam, BPharm, Raymond W.M. Mak, MSc, Vincent K.C. Wong, MPharm, Timo C.C. Chan, MClinPharm, Andrew W.T. Li, MClinPharm, Charlie C.Y. Mak, MClinPharm, Valerie Chiang, MBBS, Gordon K.H. Chu, MBBS, Jane C.Y. Wong, MBBS, Philip H. Li, MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:World Allergy Organization Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1939455124001352
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850062361663111168
author James K.Y. Hooi, MBChB
Marshall C.H. Low, BPharm
Jonathan C.L. To, BPharm
Hugo W.F. Mak, MBBS
Mandy M. Choi, BPharm
Chris C.P. Tam, BPharm
Raymond W.M. Mak, MSc
Vincent K.C. Wong, MPharm
Timo C.C. Chan, MClinPharm
Andrew W.T. Li, MClinPharm
Charlie C.Y. Mak, MClinPharm
Valerie Chiang, MBBS
Gordon K.H. Chu, MBBS
Jane C.Y. Wong, MBBS
Philip H. Li, MD
author_facet James K.Y. Hooi, MBChB
Marshall C.H. Low, BPharm
Jonathan C.L. To, BPharm
Hugo W.F. Mak, MBBS
Mandy M. Choi, BPharm
Chris C.P. Tam, BPharm
Raymond W.M. Mak, MSc
Vincent K.C. Wong, MPharm
Timo C.C. Chan, MClinPharm
Andrew W.T. Li, MClinPharm
Charlie C.Y. Mak, MClinPharm
Valerie Chiang, MBBS
Gordon K.H. Chu, MBBS
Jane C.Y. Wong, MBBS
Philip H. Li, MD
author_sort James K.Y. Hooi, MBChB
collection DOAJ
description Background: Mislabelled penicillin allergies are associated with a myriad of adverse outcomes and development of anti-microbial resistance. With the overwhelming need for specialist allergy services, pharmacist initiatives such as the Hong Kong Penicillin Allergy Pharmacist Initiative (HK-PAPI) have been advocated. However, evidence of their effectiveness, safety and impact on health-related quality-of-life (HR-QoL) are lacking.To assess and compare the effectiveness, safety and improvements on HR-QoL of pharmacists vs allergists in a pilot low-risk penicillin allergy delabelling initiative. Methods: All adult patients referred for low-risk penicillin allergy were randomized and evaluated by either pharmacists or allergists in a 1:3 ratio. Outcomes and changes in Drug Hypersensitivity Quality of Life Questionnaire (DrHy-Q) scores were compared. Results: Of 323 patients referred, 96.3% (311/323) completed penicillin allergy evaluation (pharmacists: 83 [24.3%] vs allergists: 228 [66.7%]). Overall, 93.6% (291/311) were delabelled with no difference between evaluations by pharmacists and allergists (92.8% vs 93.9%, p = 0.729). There were no severe or systemic reactions in either cohort. Patients evaluated by either pharmacists (43.4 [SD:29.1] to 10.5 [SD:5.93], p < 0.001) or allergists (37.2 [SD:22.2] to 29.1 [SD:22.4], p < 0.001) reported improved HR-QoL as reflected by DrHy-Q scores. However, absolute changes in DrHy-Q scores were significantly greater among patients evaluated by pharmacists compared to those by allergists (−24.6 [SD:25.1] vs −9.19 [SD:13.7], p < 0.001). Conclusions: Evaluations and delabelling by pharmacists (vs allergists) were comparably effective and safe among patients with low-risk penicillin allergy. Moreover, patients evaluated by pharmacists even reported significantly greater improvements in HR-QoL, highlighting the potential of multidisciplinary allergy initiatives.
format Article
id doaj-art-40564bcbb38e46ba9601042f9976b105
institution DOAJ
issn 1939-4551
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series World Allergy Organization Journal
spelling doaj-art-40564bcbb38e46ba9601042f9976b1052025-08-20T02:49:56ZengElsevierWorld Allergy Organization Journal1939-45512024-12-01171210100310.1016/j.waojou.2024.101003Comparing pharmacists versus allergists in low-risk penicillin allergy delabelling: The Hong Kong Penicillin Allergy Pharmacist Initiative (HK-PAPI)James K.Y. Hooi, MBChB0Marshall C.H. Low, BPharm1Jonathan C.L. To, BPharm2Hugo W.F. Mak, MBBS3Mandy M. Choi, BPharm4Chris C.P. Tam, BPharm5Raymond W.M. Mak, MSc6Vincent K.C. Wong, MPharm7Timo C.C. Chan, MClinPharm8Andrew W.T. Li, MClinPharm9Charlie C.Y. Mak, MClinPharm10Valerie Chiang, MBBS11Gordon K.H. Chu, MBBS12Jane C.Y. Wong, MBBS13Philip H. Li, MD14Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDivision of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDivision of Clinical Immunology, Department of Pathology, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDivision of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDivision of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDivision of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Corresponding author. Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, 102 Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China.Background: Mislabelled penicillin allergies are associated with a myriad of adverse outcomes and development of anti-microbial resistance. With the overwhelming need for specialist allergy services, pharmacist initiatives such as the Hong Kong Penicillin Allergy Pharmacist Initiative (HK-PAPI) have been advocated. However, evidence of their effectiveness, safety and impact on health-related quality-of-life (HR-QoL) are lacking.To assess and compare the effectiveness, safety and improvements on HR-QoL of pharmacists vs allergists in a pilot low-risk penicillin allergy delabelling initiative. Methods: All adult patients referred for low-risk penicillin allergy were randomized and evaluated by either pharmacists or allergists in a 1:3 ratio. Outcomes and changes in Drug Hypersensitivity Quality of Life Questionnaire (DrHy-Q) scores were compared. Results: Of 323 patients referred, 96.3% (311/323) completed penicillin allergy evaluation (pharmacists: 83 [24.3%] vs allergists: 228 [66.7%]). Overall, 93.6% (291/311) were delabelled with no difference between evaluations by pharmacists and allergists (92.8% vs 93.9%, p = 0.729). There were no severe or systemic reactions in either cohort. Patients evaluated by either pharmacists (43.4 [SD:29.1] to 10.5 [SD:5.93], p < 0.001) or allergists (37.2 [SD:22.2] to 29.1 [SD:22.4], p < 0.001) reported improved HR-QoL as reflected by DrHy-Q scores. However, absolute changes in DrHy-Q scores were significantly greater among patients evaluated by pharmacists compared to those by allergists (−24.6 [SD:25.1] vs −9.19 [SD:13.7], p < 0.001). Conclusions: Evaluations and delabelling by pharmacists (vs allergists) were comparably effective and safe among patients with low-risk penicillin allergy. Moreover, patients evaluated by pharmacists even reported significantly greater improvements in HR-QoL, highlighting the potential of multidisciplinary allergy initiatives.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1939455124001352HypersensitivityDelabellingLow-riskPenicillinsPharmacists
spellingShingle James K.Y. Hooi, MBChB
Marshall C.H. Low, BPharm
Jonathan C.L. To, BPharm
Hugo W.F. Mak, MBBS
Mandy M. Choi, BPharm
Chris C.P. Tam, BPharm
Raymond W.M. Mak, MSc
Vincent K.C. Wong, MPharm
Timo C.C. Chan, MClinPharm
Andrew W.T. Li, MClinPharm
Charlie C.Y. Mak, MClinPharm
Valerie Chiang, MBBS
Gordon K.H. Chu, MBBS
Jane C.Y. Wong, MBBS
Philip H. Li, MD
Comparing pharmacists versus allergists in low-risk penicillin allergy delabelling: The Hong Kong Penicillin Allergy Pharmacist Initiative (HK-PAPI)
World Allergy Organization Journal
Hypersensitivity
Delabelling
Low-risk
Penicillins
Pharmacists
title Comparing pharmacists versus allergists in low-risk penicillin allergy delabelling: The Hong Kong Penicillin Allergy Pharmacist Initiative (HK-PAPI)
title_full Comparing pharmacists versus allergists in low-risk penicillin allergy delabelling: The Hong Kong Penicillin Allergy Pharmacist Initiative (HK-PAPI)
title_fullStr Comparing pharmacists versus allergists in low-risk penicillin allergy delabelling: The Hong Kong Penicillin Allergy Pharmacist Initiative (HK-PAPI)
title_full_unstemmed Comparing pharmacists versus allergists in low-risk penicillin allergy delabelling: The Hong Kong Penicillin Allergy Pharmacist Initiative (HK-PAPI)
title_short Comparing pharmacists versus allergists in low-risk penicillin allergy delabelling: The Hong Kong Penicillin Allergy Pharmacist Initiative (HK-PAPI)
title_sort comparing pharmacists versus allergists in low risk penicillin allergy delabelling the hong kong penicillin allergy pharmacist initiative hk papi
topic Hypersensitivity
Delabelling
Low-risk
Penicillins
Pharmacists
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1939455124001352
work_keys_str_mv AT jameskyhooimbchb comparingpharmacistsversusallergistsinlowriskpenicillinallergydelabellingthehongkongpenicillinallergypharmacistinitiativehkpapi
AT marshallchlowbpharm comparingpharmacistsversusallergistsinlowriskpenicillinallergydelabellingthehongkongpenicillinallergypharmacistinitiativehkpapi
AT jonathancltobpharm comparingpharmacistsversusallergistsinlowriskpenicillinallergydelabellingthehongkongpenicillinallergypharmacistinitiativehkpapi
AT hugowfmakmbbs comparingpharmacistsversusallergistsinlowriskpenicillinallergydelabellingthehongkongpenicillinallergypharmacistinitiativehkpapi
AT mandymchoibpharm comparingpharmacistsversusallergistsinlowriskpenicillinallergydelabellingthehongkongpenicillinallergypharmacistinitiativehkpapi
AT chriscptambpharm comparingpharmacistsversusallergistsinlowriskpenicillinallergydelabellingthehongkongpenicillinallergypharmacistinitiativehkpapi
AT raymondwmmakmsc comparingpharmacistsversusallergistsinlowriskpenicillinallergydelabellingthehongkongpenicillinallergypharmacistinitiativehkpapi
AT vincentkcwongmpharm comparingpharmacistsversusallergistsinlowriskpenicillinallergydelabellingthehongkongpenicillinallergypharmacistinitiativehkpapi
AT timoccchanmclinpharm comparingpharmacistsversusallergistsinlowriskpenicillinallergydelabellingthehongkongpenicillinallergypharmacistinitiativehkpapi
AT andrewwtlimclinpharm comparingpharmacistsversusallergistsinlowriskpenicillinallergydelabellingthehongkongpenicillinallergypharmacistinitiativehkpapi
AT charliecymakmclinpharm comparingpharmacistsversusallergistsinlowriskpenicillinallergydelabellingthehongkongpenicillinallergypharmacistinitiativehkpapi
AT valeriechiangmbbs comparingpharmacistsversusallergistsinlowriskpenicillinallergydelabellingthehongkongpenicillinallergypharmacistinitiativehkpapi
AT gordonkhchumbbs comparingpharmacistsversusallergistsinlowriskpenicillinallergydelabellingthehongkongpenicillinallergypharmacistinitiativehkpapi
AT janecywongmbbs comparingpharmacistsversusallergistsinlowriskpenicillinallergydelabellingthehongkongpenicillinallergypharmacistinitiativehkpapi
AT philiphlimd comparingpharmacistsversusallergistsinlowriskpenicillinallergydelabellingthehongkongpenicillinallergypharmacistinitiativehkpapi