Incidence of Circulating Antibody to Penicillin in Penicillin Hypersensitivity Reactions

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Abstract
THE existence of circulating antibody to penicillin has been described,1 but its significance in clinical hypersensitivity to this antibiotic has not been defined. In the absence of reliable tests for the prediction and diagnosis of penicillin hypersensitivity, knowledge of the role of this antibody in clinical allergy becomes important. Accordingly, serum was studied from 62 persons showing allergic manifestations subsequent to the administration of benzathine penicillin for the prophylaxis of streptococcal infections. These subjects were members of a population of 16,000 naval recruits in training to whom penicillin was given because of a past high incidence of acute rheumatic fever . . .