Box 1. Aim of diagnostic procedures in suspected BLA allergies.

The aim of allergy testing is to establish whether a patient with a history of hypersensitivity reaction to BLA actually has an allergy. Knowing that they have a confirmed allergy would protect the allergic patients from further allergic reactions. A prognosis shall be given, which antibiotics not have to be avoided in the future, and the current hypersensitivity shall be investigated.

Qualified allergy testing in patients with a history allergy to one or more BLA makes it possible to select tolerated BLA antibiotics for affected patients in order to more effectively treat bacterial infections. This enables patients to be more frequently treated with the antibiotic of first choice. An infection requiring treatment can be better controlled, resulting in the faster recovery of the patient and fewer infection-related sequelae, not least in terms of patients’ life expectancy.

Targeted treatment of infections reduces the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, and thus also the selection of resistant bacteria. Antibiotic resistance can be reduced.

The cost to the population as a whole and to the health care system is lowered by the reduction in the use of expensive broad-spectrum antibiotics, fewer sick days and days in hospital, and lower secondary costs resulting from antibiotic resistance.