Delabeling Penicillin Allergy—Beyond Hospitals, Beyond Hong Kong

Penicillin allergy is one of the most reported drug allergies, yet at the same time also commonly mislabelled. Patients carrying a penicillin allergy label (PAL) have limited antibiotic options, leading to various adverse clinical outcomes, including a higher rate of infections, increased risk of side effects from alternative antibiotics, and increased hospital admissions. The development of antibiotic resistance has become a hazard to the public health. All these ultimately lead to rising healthcare costs. This narrative review discusses the shift in the paradigm of penicillin allergy delabeling and how the successful experience from Hong Kong influences regional practice and is part of the international effort to combat the pandemic of PALs.