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Assessing the Removal of Beta-Lactam Antibiotic Allergy Labels from the Medical Record for Improving Clinical Outcomes in Patients Hospitalized for a Hematologic Cancer

Trial Status: active

This clinical trial evaluates whether the removal of beta-lactam antibiotic allergy labels from the medical records of eligible patients impacts antibiotic use and hospital length of stay in patients hospitalized for a hematologic cancer. Beta-lactam antibiotics are a class of drugs that include penicillin. Research shows that beta-lactam allergy is the most commonly listed drug allergy in the medical record. Having a penicillin allergy label is known to be associated with worse clinical outcomes for patients with cancer, as allergy labels in the medical record can prevent patients from receiving drugs in the beta-lactam family that could best treat some types of infections. Most people lose their penicillin allergy over time, so more than 90% of patients who report these allergies may not currently have a true allergy. In this trial, patients who have previously reported reactions to beta-lactam drugs undergo assessment of their current allergy status and, if eligible, may have the allergy label modified or removed from their medical record. Correctly identifying patients with and without current beta-lactam antibiotic allergies may improve patient outcomes by giving physicians making treatment decisions a broader range of antibiotics to choose from if needed.