Clinical presentation in hypersensitivity reactions to beta-lactams: MAUS mnemonic

Two hundred patients with a proven hypersensitivity reaction to beta-lactams were evaluated in a study published in Allergy.

Clinical presentation in hypersensitivity reactions to beta-lactams is remembered by the mnemonic MAUS:

Maculopapular exanthema, 19.1%
Anaphylaxis without shock, 19.1%
Urticaria, 36.7%
Shock, anaphylactic shock, 17.6%

Anaphylactic shock and anaphylaxis occurred within 1 hour of beta-lactam administration. Exanthema occurred after 24 hours. Urticaria occurred at any time.



Hypersensitivity reactions to beta-lactam antibiotics: MAUS mnemonic 20-20-40-20%. Click here to enlarge the image.

References:

Clinical presentation and time course in hypersensitivity reactions to β-lactams. P. J. Bousquet, V. Kvedariene, H.-B. Co-Minh, P. Martins, M. Rongier, B. Arnoux, P. Demoly (2007). Allergy 62 (8), 872–876.
Adverse Reactions to Drugs: A Short Review. Allergy Cases, 2007.
Image source: Penicillin nucleus, Wikipedia, GNU Free Documentation License.