Clinical Research Directory

A Digital Stewardship Strategy for Patients With Reported Penicillin Allergy

The goal of this clinical study is to evaluate whether a digital decision support tool integrated into the electronic medical record improves antibiotic prescribing in hospitalized patients with a reported allergy to penicillin. Around 5 out of 100 hospitalized patients at our center have a penicillin allergy label in their medical record. However, this allergy is confirmed in less than 10 out of 100 cases. Despite this, more than 90 out of 100 of these patients receive alternative antibiotics that may be less effective or less aligned with clinical guidelines. This study includes adults older than 16 years treated at Hospital Sant Joan de Déu de Manresa (Althaia) for infections that require systemic antibiotic treatment. Participants are those with a recorded penicillin allergy in their medical record or who report an allergy during their current hospital admission. The main questions this study aims to answer are: Does the use of a digital decision support tool increase the use of beta-lactam antibiotics (such as penicillins and cephalosporins) in patients with a reported penicillin allergy? Does the tool reduce the use of alternative antibiotic treatments that are less aligned with hospital guidelines? Participants will receive standard clinical care. In addition, healthcare professionals will use a digital tool integrated into the electronic medical record. This tool supports clinical decision-making by assessing individual allergy risk and aligning antibiotic selection with hospital treatment guidelines. The study will last approximately 15 months and will be conducted at a single hospital center.