Check Again initiative
Our goal
Improving antibiotic treatment options for patients with a penicillin allergy label
More than two million Australians report an allergy to antibiotics, with 1 in 10 patients in hospitals reporting a penicillin allergy. However, studies have shown that in more than 95 per cent of cases, these allergy labels are inaccurate and can be removed with a thorough allergy history and/or allergy testing.
Not assessing whether a patient is currently allergic to penicillin can lead to inappropriate or less effective antibiotic treatment options, and potentially:
- poor health outcomes
- extended hospital stays and complications
- increased antimicrobial resistance
- higher hospital readmission rates
This initiative aimed to improve inpatient access to penicillin allergy assessment and testing (for low-risk penicillin allergies). We partnered with Victorian hospitals, consumers and clinical experts to open the door for health services to offer more effective treatment options.
In progress
Project in progress
Project updates
Check Again
Applications are open for the Check Again Network
11 September 2024
Resources
Check Again – Change package
This change package guides participants in a Breakthrough Series Collaborative to engage in improvement work at their health service.
Check Again – Toolkit
This resource is for services that are planning improvement work to improve the assessment of penicillin allergies and implement delabelling strategies for low-risk penicillin allergies.
Featured resource
Executive summary
Read the executive summary for the Check Again Evaluation Report.
Check Again – Change package
This change package guides participants in a Breakthrough Series Collaborative to engage in improvement work at their health service.
Check Again – Toolkit
This resource is for services that are planning improvement work to improve the assessment of penicillin allergies and implement delabelling strategies for low-risk penicillin allergies.
Our stories
Clinicians profile
Fight Antimicrobial Resistance - Check Again
November 18 – 24 is World Antimicrobial Awareness Week. Safer Care Victoria is joining with clinicians and patients to promote the safe and appropriate use of antibiotics.
Do you have a question about this project? Get in touch with the project team.
Subscribe and stay up to date with this project
Antimicrobial resistance
We spoke to A/Prof Jason Trubiano, Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Austin Health about antimicrobial resistance and what we’re doing to fight it.