Implementation of nursing protocols for penicillin-allergy assessment in an STI clinic

Authors

• Jessica W. Dalby, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health.
• Helen Hermus, Milwaukee Consortium for Hmong Health, Inc.
• Sharon Conley, Advocate Health - MidwestFollow
• Andrea Warren, Vivent Health Cait McCrory, MPH, City of Milwaukee Health Department.

Recommended Citation

Dalby JW, Hermus H, Conley S, Warren A. Implementation of Nursing Protocols for Penicillin-allergy Assessment in an STI Clinic. Sex Transm Dis. Published online May 12, 2026. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000002344

Abstract

Penicillin allergy assessment within STI clinics is critical for timely, safe, and effective syphilis treatment among marginalized populations who experience multiple barriers to care. It is also an important public health measure to support antibiotic stewardship in populations at high-risk for antibiotic use. This report describes a quality improvement project in an STI clinic which used nursing protocols for penicillin allergy assessment with a validated risk scoring tool (PEN-FAST) and direct oral amoxicillin challenge. In the first year of protocol implementation, just over 75% of patients with syphilis who reported penicillin allergy were treated safely with benzathine penicillin G.

Document Type

Article

PubMed ID

42117707