SYSTEMIC MANIFESTATIONS AFTER A SKIN TEST WITH PENICILLOYLPOLYLYSINE.

PENICILLIN hypersensitivity is a major problem.1 Various skin tests have been used to determine if patients are hypersensitive to penicillin before the institution of therapy. These procedures involve patch tests, scratch tests or intradermal injection of penicillin.1 2 3 Anaphylaxis has been reported to occur despite negative results for hypersensitivity by each of these methods.3 Recently, an intradermal test has been evaluated that utilizes a penicillin degradation product, penicilloyl, which is conjugated with polylysine.4 5 6 The results of this test have been reported to correlate closely with penicillin allergy.5 , 6 To our knowledge no systemic reactions have been reported after the intradermal injection of . . .