Resident
Chew, Caitlin, BSc, PharmD
Residency Program
LMPS
Project Title
Safety of Cefazolin in Pregnant Patients with Documented Penicillin Allergy
Investigators
Paquette, Vanessa, B.Sc.(Pharm), ACPR, PharmD, Carr, Roxane, B.Sc.(Pharm), ACPR, PharmD, BCPS, FCSHP, Elwood, Chelsea, MD, FRCSC
Abstract
Cefazolin is a commonly prescribed antibiotic in pregnancy. About 10% of pregnant patients report a history of penicillin allergy. Cefazolin does not share side chains with penicillin and can be safely given to patients with a history of type I allergy to penicillin. Current guidelines recommend against the use of cefazolin in high-risk penicillin allergic pregnant patients. The purpose of this study was to describe the safety of cefazolin in pregnant patients with history of penicillin allergy between January 2016 to August 2021. The majority of pregnant patients with penicillin allergy, including anaphylaxis, safely tolerated cefazolin with no allergic reaction.
