BackTable / ENT / Podcast / Episode #255

Antibiotic Allergy vs. Intolerance: Understanding Patient Risk

with Dr. Cosby Stone

When should an antibiotic allergy actually be tested? In this episode of the BackTable ENT Podcast, guest host Dr. Basil Kahwash, an allergist and immunologist at Ohio ENT & Allergy, sits down with Dr. Cosby Stone, an allergist and immunologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, to discuss antibiotic allergies and how to distinguish true allergies from intolerances.

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Antibiotic Allergy vs. Intolerance: Understanding Patient Risk with Dr. Cosby Stone on the BackTable ENT Podcast

Ep 255 Antibiotic Allergy vs. Intolerance: Understanding Patient Risk with Dr. Cosby Stone

00:00 / 01:04

BackTable, LLC (Producer). (2026, January 6). Ep. 255 – Antibiotic Allergy vs. Intolerance: Understanding Patient Risk [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from https://www.backtable.com

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Podcast Contributors

Dr. Basil Kahwash

Dr. Basil Kahwash is a board-certified allergist and immunologist from Ohio ENT and Allergy.

Dr. Cosby Stone

Dr. Cosby Stone is an allergist and immunologist practicing at Vanderbilt Health in Nashville, Tennessee.

Synopsis

Dr. Stone breaks down common misconceptions around antibiotic allergies, with a focus on penicillin and cephalosporins. The conversation explores how these allergies are evaluated, including when skin testing is appropriate, why inaccurate allergy labels matter, and how confirmed allergies should be managed long term. They also dive into more advanced topics such as drug desensitization, current research in the field, and where the future of drug allergy evaluation is headed.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction
01:03 - Understanding Antibiotic Allergies
07:28 - The Importance of Accurate Allergy Diagnosis
10:55 - Key Questions for Diagnosing Allergies
17:10 - Implementing Allergy Testing in Healthcare Settings
19:06 - Identifying Severe Allergic Reactions
26:31 - Interpreting Allergy Skin Testing Procedures
33:17 - Penicillin and Cephalosporin Cross-Reactivity
37:15 - Drug Desensitization: Indications and Process
40:30 - Prognosis and Long-Term Outcomes of Drug Allergies
47:22 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Resources

Dr. Basil Kahwash
https://www.ohioentandallergy.com/physicians/basil-kahwash-md/

Dr. Cosby Stone
https://www.vanderbilthealth.com/doctors/stone-cosby

Read Transcript

The Materials available on BackTable are for informational and educational purposes only and are not a substitute for the professional judgment of a healthcare professional in diagnosing and treating patients. The opinions expressed by participants of the BackTable Podcast belong solely to the participants, and do not necessarily reflect the views of BackTable.

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