Drug‐induced anaphylaxis in Australia: we need a national drug allergy registry

A comprehensive adverse drug reaction registry with validated information would improve patient safety and care

Just over two years ago, the Victorian Department of Health introduced mandatory reporting of cases of anaphylaxis in people presenting to public and private emergency departments,1 facilitating data collection unique in Australia. In this issue of the MJA, Drewett and colleagues report their analysis of the first two years of data collected, focusing on medication‐related anaphylaxis.2 While food allergy was the leading cause of anaphylaxis, especially in younger people, drug‐related anaphylaxis accounted for 12% of all cases, and for a relatively high proportion in adults aged 40 years or more. Antimicrobial agents and non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs were most frequently involved.2