Designing an intervention to investigate penicillin allergy labels
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Developing a complex intervention to investigate penicillin allergy labels in surgical patients
IRAS ID
355760
Contact name
Anna Littlejohns
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Penicillin is a critical antibiotic and is often used at the time of surgery to prevent infections in surgical scars. It is very effective at preventing these infections, which reduces complications for patients.
A lot of the population have a label of being allergic to penicillin, which means they are unable to receive penicillin at the time of surgery. This label is associated with harm, as second choice antibiotics are less effective, carry more side effects and are often more expensive. However, we know that around 95% of these labels are incorrect, and the patients are not actually allergic to penicillin, so they are being denied the most appropriate medication unnecessarily.
Investigating the penicillin allergy label would be beneficial as it can show which patients are safe to receive it. However, currently there are no routine pathways for patients to have their penicillin allergy investigated ahead of their planned surgery. Previous attempts to undertake such work have highlighted multiple barriers from both patient and healthcare providers, and more understanding is required into this.
This study is looking at how best we can create an acceptable, sustainable service that can investigate patients with a label of being allergic to penicillin, ahead of their planned surgery.
We want to hear the opinions of patients, particularly patients whose voices haven’t been heard in this context in previous research. And we want to hear from a range healthcare providers, as well as service managers. The project will initially involve interviews with patients to understand some of the reasons patients don't want to get involved with such testing. And then the project will involve workshops with patients and healthcare staff to give their opinions and jointly design the service.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/NW/0098
Date of REC Opinion
7 May 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion