Bibliometric analysis of the trends and evolution in β-lactam allergy research

Abstract

Background

β-Lactams remain the most reported drug allergy globally, with the volume and diversity of related drug allergy research continuing to accumulate. Recognizing evolving research trends can help inform future directions and encourage synergistic collaborations.

Objective

We conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of all publications relevant to β-lactam allergy, with a focus on longitudinal publication rates, international collaborations, and key word/trend analysis.

Methods

Meta-data from all original articles, letters, and reviews relevant to β-lactam allergy on the Web of Science Core Collection up until December 31, 2023, were analyzed.

Results

From 1966 to 2023, there were 4451 records (3536 articles, 631 reviews, and 284 letters) from 78 countries. There was an exponential increase in publications, especially during the past decade, with half of all publications on β-lactam allergy published during this time (50.6% [2252 of 4452]). Overall, 18.1% of the publications (805 of 4452) involved international coauthorships, with a significant increase since the previous decade (12.7% vs 23.3% [P < .001]). The most frequent key words in the first published half of articles were skin testing (84 of 1919), IgE (57 of 1919), and anaphylaxis (49 of 1919); in contrast to the key word skin testing (137 of 3351), the key words drug provocation test (121 of 3351), antimicrobial resistance (120 of 3351), and antimicrobial stewardship (118 of 3351) were the most frequent key words in the latter half.

Conclusion

There has been a surge in publications, international collaboration, and shifting paradigms in β-lactam allergy research. The field has evolved beyond focusing on in vitro tests or desensitization toward antimicrobial stewardship. However, there still seems to be relatively fewer collaborations with non-Western countries. Further international collaborations to harmonize delabeling strategies against the threat of mislabeled β-lactam allergy should be encouraged.