Penicillin allergies may be

linked to one immune system

gene

Project by Calin Alexandra

What are
Penicillins?
Penicillins are a group of antibiotics
produced naturally by certain blue molds
(principally P. chrysogenum and P. rubens),
and are usually prepared synthetically.
They are widely used today for different
bacterial infections, though many types
of bacteria have
developed resistance following extensive use.
Penicillin, effective against many bacterial infections, is often a
first-line antibiotic. Yet it is also one of the most common
causes of drug allergies. Around 10 percent of people say
they’ve had an allergic reaction to penicillin, according to the
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
 Now researchers have found
a genetic link to
the hypersensitivity, which,
while rarely fatal, can cause:
hives (also known as
urticaria) wheezing,
arrythmias and more.  
For the penicillin study, the team hunted
through more than 600,000 electronic
health records that included genetic
information for people who self-reported
penicillin allergies. The researchers used
several genetic search tools, which comb
through DNA in search of genetic
variations that may be linked to a health
problem. Their search turned up a specific
spot on chromosome 6, on a variant
called HLA-B.
 Penicillin allergies often begin in
childhood, but can wane over time,
making the drugs safer to use some
years later. In this study, self-reported
allergies were not confirmed with a test,
so there’s a chance that some
participants were misclassified.
About 90 percent of patients
who claim to be allergic to penicillin
can actually safely take the drug.

 Additional studies will lead to
better understanding of penicillin
allergy and also better prediction.
Conclusions
Use antibiotics only as prescribed by
your doctor. Take the prescribed daily Don't self-medicate
dosage, and complete the entire and self-diagnose.
course of treatment.
Thank you for your attention!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0V6DRJBBGY