[Microbiological and pharmacological data useful for the treatment of Lyme disease. Treatment and follow up of early Lyme disease (erythema migrans)]

Med Mal Infect. 2007 Jul-Aug;37(7-8):394-409. doi: 10.1016/j.medmal.2006.01.028. Epub 2007 Aug 21.
[Article in French]

Abstract

The aim of this review was first to analyze the microbiological and pharmacological criteria used to choose a treatment for Lyme disease. The determination of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato susceptibility to antibiotics is difficult, especially because of the lack of standardization in the methods used. In vitro data is helpful to determine Lyme treatment but discrepancies between in vitro and in vivo results highlight the need to confirm this data by clinical trials. The second part is an analysis of the literature made to evaluate the current strategies of treatment and follow up of early Lyme disease characterized by erythema migrans (EM). beta-lactams (penicillin G and V, amoxicillin, cefuroxime axetil, ceftriaxone), tetracyclines (doxycycline), and macrolides (mainly azithromycin) are the drugs most frequently used during clinical trials. The comparison between treatments is difficult because of the lack of reliable clinical and biological criteria to identify complete recovery. However the prognosis of treated EM is good in most trials. If a clinical follow-up remains necessary after the treatment of an EM, prolonged antibody production among asymptomatic patients reduces the interest of a serological follow-up.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / classification
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Borrelia burgdorferi Group / drug effects*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / complications
  • Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / drug therapy
  • Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / microbiology
  • Lyme Disease / drug therapy*
  • Lyme Disease / immunology
  • Lyme Disease / microbiology*
  • Lyme Disease / physiopathology
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents