WARNING: Patient has a penicillin allergy! Do you want to continue with this cephalexin order?

Although these warnings are commonplace, immunologic cross-reactivity between penicillins and cephalosporins is uncommon. When B-lactams are indicated as first-line therapy for therapy, cephalosporins are often avoided if the patient has a penicillin allergy listed. Would the removal of EHR warnings about potential penicillin allergies when cephalosporins are ordered be helpful or harmful? 

Guest Authors:  Brian Wenger, PharmD and Nora Sharaya, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP, BC-ADM

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