Are Cephalosporins Safe for Surgical Prophylaxis in Patients with Penicillin Allergy?

Overview

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 one's penicillin allergy. In this article, we aim to examine if cefazolin is safe for patients with penicillin allergy.