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BACKGROUND
Cefazolin, also known as Ancef, is a first-generation cephalosporin antibiotic often used in surgery to treat or prevent bacterial infection of the surgical site. Ancef is safe for most of the population; however, many physicians use alternative, less effective medications in patients with penicillin allergy due to a fear of cross-reactivity between Ancef and the patient’s penicillin allergy. In this article, we aim to examine if cefazolin is safe for patients with penicillin allergy.
BEST PRACTICE
Cefazolin is one of the most effective prophylactics in use today. Most current literature suggests that cefazolin is safe for surgical prophylaxis in patients with penicillin allergy.