Antibiotics allergy in cystic fibrosis

Respiratory impairment associated with chronic colonisation in cystic fibrosis patients make the prognosis. The presence of mucoid Pseudomonas Aeruginosa is a predictive factor of survival. Thus, an agressive therapeutic of the primary colonization is necessary. The repeated utilization of antibiotics, like beta-Lactams and aminoglycosides, increases the frequency of allergic manifestations in cystic fibrosis patients. beta-Lactams are responsible of 6 to 22% of the allergic reactions. Among them, Ureidopenicillins and Carbapenems (24.6 and 25%, respectively) are more frequently involved than Cephalosporins (6.5%) and Carboxypenicillins (1.6%). Diagnosis is made by medical history, immediate or late-reading prick, intradermal and patch skin tests. Negative tests may lead to a provocative drug challenge. If necessary, in well documented allergic reactions, a desensitization with the causal antibiotic can be used. (C) 2002 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.