Publications by authors named "Blumenthal K"

Pediatric antibiotic labels are common, and unnecessary antibiotic avoidance is associated with negative personal and public health outcomes; as a result, there is an increasing emphasis on the importance of pediatric antibiotic allergy evaluations. Different testing strategies have been advised, including skin testing and challenge testing with varied doses and duration. Established consensus testing protocols are lacking.

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With no standard method to capture penicillin allergy de-labeling prevalence across populations, we developed and validated a simple penicillin allergy de-labeling prevalence measure from electronic health records that achieved perfect sensitivity (100.0%), high specificity (99.4%), and strong agreement with a comprehensive algorithm that included free-text manual review (Kappa=0.

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The term "allergy" is inaccurate for the vast majority of the contents in the current allergy fields of electronic health records (EHRs). While EHRs have transformed access to health information and streamlined the delivery of care, their ability to reliably indicate medications, vaccines, or foods that mandate avoidance versus preferences or mild intolerances, is suboptimal. The current systems are reactive instead of being proactive and frequently fail to communicate the appropriate course of action.

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Background: β-Lactams remain the most reported drug allergy globally, with the volume and diversity of related drug allergy research continuing to accumulate. Recognizing evolving research trends can help inform future directions and encourage synergistic collaborations.

Objective: We conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of all publications relevant to β-lactam allergy, with a focus on longitudinal publication rates, international collaborations, and key word/trend analysis.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the risk of allergic reactions in individuals labeled with penicillin allergy when undergoing direct penicillin challenges, aiming to understand the frequency and factors influencing these reactions.
  • A meta-analysis of 56 studies with nearly 9,225 participants found that only 3.5% experienced allergic reactions, indicating a relatively low frequency for those with a penicillin allergy label.
  • Results suggested lower reaction rates in North America compared to other regions, and higher risk in children and outpatient settings, highlighting the importance of context in evaluating allergy responses.
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Article Synopsis
  • - Dupilumab is a monoclonal antibody used to treat conditions like asthma and atopic dermatitis, but its use in clinical trials led to recommendations against live vaccines due to safety concerns.
  • - Recent systematic reviews and an expert panel concluded that live vaccines are generally safe for patients on dupilumab and that the effectiveness of vaccines is not compromised.
  • - It is advisable for clinicians and patients to engage in shared decision-making regarding the administration of vaccines to those receiving dupilumab.
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Patient registries are a mechanism for collecting data on allergic and immunologic diseases that provide important information on epidemiology and outcomes that can ultimately improve patient care. Key criteria for establishing effective registries include the use of a clearly defined purpose, identifying the target population and ensuring consistent data collection. Registries in allergic diseases include those for diseases such as inborn errors of immunity (IEI), food allergy, asthma and anaphylaxis, pharmacological interventions in vulnerable populations, and adverse effects of pharmacologic interventions including hypersensitivity reactions to drugs and vaccines.

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Article Synopsis
  • Risk stratification in drug allergy categorizes reactions into low, moderate, and high risk based on various factors like reaction timing, management needs, and individual patient characteristics.
  • Despite numerous frameworks for assessing drug allergies, especially for penicillin, there is no global consensus, leading to differing methods across allergy centers.
  • The review highlights low-risk drug allergies related to certain antibiotics and chemotherapeutics, advocating for risk-based approaches in diagnosis and management, including the use of direct oral challenges for low-risk individuals.
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Background: Approximately 10% of the US population self-reports a penicillin allergy history or are labeled as penicillin allergic. However, from 90% through 99% of these patients are not allergic on formal evaluation.

Case Description: Patients labeled as penicillin allergic receive broader-spectrum and sometimes less-effective antibiotics, thereby contributing to increased treatment failures, antibiotic resistance, and adverse drug reactions.

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Article Synopsis
  • Severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs) are life-threatening conditions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, caused by immune reactions to drugs.
  • The development of SCARs is influenced by genetic factors, drug metabolism, and immune responses, leading to potential genetic screening before prescribing certain medications.
  • Treatment is evolving from traditional corticosteroids to precision therapies involving biologics and targeted small molecules, tailoring approaches based on individual patient profiles.
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Background: Using the reaction history in logistic regression and machine learning (ML) models to predict penicillin allergy has been reported based on non-US data.

Objective: We developed ML positive penicillin allergy testing prediction models from multisite US data.

Methods: Retrospective data from 4 US-based hospitals were grouped into 4 datasets: enriched training (1:3 case-control matched cohort), enriched testing, nonenriched internal testing, and nonenriched external testing.

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Study Objective: To compare the occurrence of cefazolin perioperative anaphylaxis (POA) in patients with and without a penicillin allergy label (PAL) to determine whether the prevalence of cefazolin POA differs based on the presence of a PAL.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: A large U.

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Article Synopsis
  • Primary and booster vaccinations are essential for reducing COVID-19 spread and severity, highlighting the need to understand vaccine hesitancy better.
  • A study involving 993 individuals found that many reported allergic and skin reactions after their COVID-19 vaccinations, causing a significant shift in their perceptions of vaccine safety.
  • Nearly 40% of those surveyed experienced a negative change in attitude towards future vaccinations, with younger age and specific adverse reactions being linked to increased hesitancy.
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