Is the Anamnesis Enough to De-Label Patients with Reported Beta-Lactam Allergy?

The decision whether to de-label patient with suspected BL hypersensitivity is based on risk stratification. The aim of this study was to prepare a characteristic of diagnostic risk groups and to create a model enabling the identification of the low-risk diagnostic group. We analyzed the medical records of patients hospitalized due to suspected hypersensitivity to BL antibiotics.

Occupational anaphylaxis to food.

Increasing incidence and importance of allergies in everyday life leads to bigger impact on the professional lives of patients. Continuous exposure to various allergens may be a trigger factor of development allergic diseases, even anaphylactic shock. This paper summarizes available knowledge of occupational anaphylaxis to food.

Low-Salicylate Diet in Patients with Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease: Personalization of Indications to Dietary Treatment.

Introduction: A particularly aggressive course of chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps is seen in patients with bronchial asthma and hypersensitivity to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These patients often report exacerbation associated with consumption of foods reach in salicylates. Therefore, the authors analyzed the effect of a low-salicylate diet (LSD) on the course of chronic sinusitis with polyps in patients with NSAID-exacerbated respiratory disease (N-ERD) to answer the question: which patients would obtain the best therapeutic benefit?

Methods: Adult patients with N-ERD were selected for dietary intervention with LSD.

Predictors of excessive short-acting β-agonist use and asthma exacerbations: a retrospective analysis of a Polish prescription database.

Introduction: Despite being linked to unfavourable outcomes, short-acting β-agonists (SABAs) are still overused by a substantial proportion of patients with asthma.

Aim: To analyse the prevalence and predictors of SABA overuse and exacerbations in patients with asthma in a nationwide database of prescription purchase records.

Material And Methods: The prevalence of excessive SABA use (≥ 12 canisters) and overuse (≥ 3 canisters) was analysed among patients aged 18-64 years who purchased asthma medications in 2018.

Eosinophil to lymphocyte ratio may predict OCS reduction and change in quality of life (AQLQ) resulting from asthma biological treatment.

Objectives: Simple clinical parameters that could be helpful in choice of monoclonal antibodies and prediction of their effectiveness are being sought. The aim was to assess if neutrophil-to-lymphocyte, eosinophil-to-lymphocyte and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios may predict outcomes of biologic therapy for severe asthma.

Methods: Retrospective, single-center study including severe asthma patients treated with three different biologics.

Telemedicine with special focus on allergic diseases and asthma-Status 2022: An EAACI position paper.

Efficacious, effective and efficient communication between healthcare professionals (HCP) and patients is essential to achieve a successful therapeutic alliance. Telemedicine (TM) has been used for decades but during the COVID-19 pandemic its use has become widespread. This position paper aims to describe the terminology and most important forms of TM among HCP and patients and review the existing studies on the uses of TM for asthma and allergy.

Influencing factors on the safety and effectiveness of venom immunotherapy.

Background And Objective: The safety profile of venom immunotherapy (VIT) is a relevant issue and considerable differences in safety and efficacy of VIT have been reported. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers during VIT, which has already been published. For a second analysis, data concerning premedication and venom preparations in relation to systemic adverse events (AE) during the up-dosing phase and the first year of the maintenance phase were evaluated as well as the outcome of field stings and sting challenges.

Nasal cytology can predict clinical efficacy of subcutaneous immunotherapy in intermittent allergic rhinitis.

Introduction: Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is the only disease-modifying treatment option available for patients with IgE-mediated allergic rhinitis. The identification of specific biomarkers, which may predict response to AIT, is currently an active field of research in the aspect of recommended personalization of medicine.

Aim: To assess the changes in rhinological parameters in intermittent allergic rhinitis (IAR) patients resulting from subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT).

Clinical recommendations for dry powder inhaler use in the management of COPD in primary care.

Over 1400 patients using dry powder inhalers (DPIs) to deliver COPD maintenance therapies were recruited across Europe and Australia. Their peak inspiratory flow (PIF) was measured, inhaler technique was observed, and adherence to treatment assessed. From relating the findings with patient health status, and thereby identifying critical errors, key clinical recommendations for primary care clinicians were determined, namely - measure PIF before prescribing a DPI to ensure inhalation manoeuvre ability is well-matched with the device.

Suboptimal Peak Inspiratory Flow and Critical Inhalation Errors are Associated with Higher COPD-Related Healthcare Costs.

Purpose: To assess the relationship between suboptimal Peak Inspiratory Flow (sPIF), inhalation technique errors, and non-adherence, with Healthcare Resource Utilisation (HCRU) in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients receiving maintenance therapy via a Dry Powder Inhaler (DPI).

Patients And Methods: The cross-sectional, multi-country PIFotal study included 1434 COPD patients (≥40 years) using a DPI for maintenance therapy. PIF was measured with the In-Check DIAL G16, and sPIF was defined as a typical PIF lower than required for the device.

Omalizumab added to allergen immunotherapy increased the effect of therapy in patients with severe local allergic rhinitis.

Background: Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is effective in patient with local allergic rhinitis (LAR). However, AIT may not always achieve the optimal treatment effect.

Objective: To present short study with clinical cases of LAR combined therapy with sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) and omalizumab in patients with house dust mite (HDM) allergy and compared it to therapy with omalizumab alone.

Factors associated with health status and exacerbations in COPD maintenance therapy with dry powder inhalers.

The study aimed to determine the associations of Peak Inspiratory Flow (PIF), inhalation technique and adherence with health status and exacerbations in participants with COPD using DPI maintenance therapy. This cross-sectional multi-country observational real-world study included COPD participants aged ≥40 years using a DPI for maintenance therapy. PIF was measured three times with the In-Check DIAL G16: (1) typical PIF at resistance of participant's inhaler, (2) maximal PIF at resistance of participant's inhaler, (3) maximal PIF at low resistance.

Allergic and hypersensitivity conditions in non-specialist care: Flow diagrams to support clinical practice.

Most patients presenting with allergies are first seen by primary care health professionals. The perceived knowledge gaps and educational needs were recently assessed in response to which the LOGOGRAM Task Force was established with the remit of constructing pragmatic flow diagrams for common allergic conditions in line with an earlier EAACI proposal to develop simplified pathways for the diagnosis and management of allergic diseases in primary care. To address the lack of accessible and pragmatic guidance, we designed flow diagrams for five major clinical allergy conditions: asthma, anaphylaxis, food allergy, drug allergy, and urticaria.

Allergies and COVID-19 vaccines: An ENDA/EAACI Position paper.

Background: Anaphylaxis, which is rare, has been reported after COVID-19 vaccination, but its management is not standardized.

Method: Members of the European Network for Drug Allergy and the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology interested in drug allergy participated in an online questionnaire on pre-vaccination screening and management of allergic reactions to COVID-19 vaccines, and literature was analysed.

Results: No death due to anaphylaxis to COVID-19 vaccines has been confirmed in scientific literature.

A multi-disciplinary approach to the diagnosis and management of allergic diseases: An EAACI Task Force.

Background: Guidelines for management of patients with allergic conditions are available, but the added value of nurses, allied healthcare professionals (AHPs), and general practitioners (GPs), in the management of allergic disease, has not been fully clarified. The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) appointed a task force to explore this issue.

Aim: To investigate the added value of nurses, AHPs, and GPs in management of allergic diseases, in an integrated model of care.

Current allergy educational needs in primary care. Results of the EAACI working group on primary care survey exploring the confidence to manage and the opportunity to refer patients with allergy.

Unlabelled: The aim of this survey was to explore the specific educational needs of a cohort of European GPs with regards to allergy training so that future educational initiatives may better support the delivery of allergy services in primary care.

Method: This study took the form of a cross-sectional observational study in which a structured electronic questionnaire was distributed to primary care providers, in eight languages, across 8 European countries between September 2019 and November 2019. Data associated with demographic parameters, professional qualifications, type of employment, level of confidence regarding competencies for diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases, referral of patients to allergist and preferred method of learning and assessment were collected.

Allergen immunotherapy against house dust mites in patients with local allergic rhinitis and asthma.

The study was a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with patients diagnosed with LAR to HDMs and with concomitant asthma who underwent a 12-month treatment course of SLIT for HDM allergies. Seventeen patients were randomized to SLIT with the use of allergen extracts of and (50/50%) in SQ-HDM SLIT tablets and 15 patients were randomized to the placebo group. The total rhinitis score (TRSS), total asthma symptom score (TASS), combined total symptom score (TSS), total medication score (TMS), and FEV1 were analyzed.

Management of anaphylaxis due to COVID-19 vaccines in the elderly.

Older adults, especially men and/or those with diabetes, hypertension, and/or obesity, are prone to severe COVID-19. In some countries, older adults, particularly those residing in nursing homes, have been prioritized to receive COVID-19 vaccines due to high risk of death. In very rare instances, the COVID-19 vaccines can induce anaphylaxis, and the management of anaphylaxis in older people should be considered carefully.

COVID-19 pandemic and allergen immunotherapy-an EAACI survey.

Background: As in many fields of medical care, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) resulted in an increased uncertainty regarding the safety of allergen immunotherapy (AIT). Therefore, the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) aimed to analyze the situation in different countries and to systematically collect all information available regarding tolerability and possible amendments in daily practice of sublingual AIT (SLIT), subcutaneous AIT (SCIT) for inhalant allergies and venom AIT.

Methods: Under the framework of the EAACI, a panel of experts in the field of AIT coordinated by the Immunotherapy Interest Group set-up a web-based retrospective survey (SurveyMonkey ) including 27 standardized questions on practical and safety aspects on AIT in worldwide clinical routine.