Articles Vol. 67 No. CĐ3-NCKH 02/04/2026

CHARACTERISTICS OF ANTIBIOTIC SKIN TESTS IN PATIENTS WITH A HISTORY OF ALLERGIES AT THE CLINICAL ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY CENTER, BACH MAI HOSPITAL

Nguyet Nguyen Nhu1,2, Hieu Chu Chi1,2, Hang Vu Thi1,2, Khanh Bui Van1,2, Tu Dinh Thi Dieu3,4, Lam Do Thi Tung5,6, Anh Nguyen Ngoc7,8, Thuong Nguyen Thi Huyen7,8, Linh Nguyen Thuy7,8
1 Allergy Center – MDLS, Bach Mai Hospital
2 Trung tâm Dị ứng – MDLS, Bệnh viện Bạch Mai
3 General Planning Department, Bach Mai Hospital
4 Phòng Kế hoạch tổng hợp, Bệnh viện Bạch Mai
5 Tam Anh Hospital
6 Bệnh viện Tâm Anh
7 Hanoi Medical University
8 Đại học Y Hà Nội
DOI: 10.52163/yhc.v67iCD3.4731
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Abstract

Objective: To describe the characteristics of antibiotic skin testing in patients with a history of allergy.

Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in patients with a history of allergy who attended the Allergen Clinic of the Center for Allergy and Clinical Immunology from January to March 2025.

Results: The study included 872 patients who underwent a total of 5,195 skin tests, comprising 4,875 skin prick tests (93.8%) and 320 intradermal tests (6.2%). Only 55 patients had positive skin test results to at least one antibiotic (44 skin prick tests and 11 intradermal tests). The highest rate of positive skin tests was observed in the quinolone group, whereas penicillins, carbapenems, tetracyclines, and lincosamides showed the lowest positivity rates. No cross-reactivity between antibiotics was detected.

Conclusion: Most antibiotic skin tests in patients with a history of allergy were negative; therefore, a general history of allergy may not be a risk factor for IgE-mediated antibiotic allergy.

Keywords
allergy, skin prick test, intradermal test, antibiotic
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