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Approximately 10% of all U.S. patients report having an allergic reaction to a penicillin class antibiotic in their past. 10% of the population reports a penicillin allergy but <1% of the whole population is truly allergic. People with a penicillin allergy on their medical record are not given penicillin, and may not be given any beta-lactam antibiotics because of concern that the allergy is shared across the antibiotic class. Instead, the antibiotics prescribed may be broader-spectrum. Broad-spectrum antibiotics may be as effective, but they often have more side effects and toxicities, such a
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