Towards shortening the duration of antibiotic therapy for Lyme borreliosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Llewelyn MJ, Fitzpatrick JM, Darwin E, Tonkin-Crine S, Gorton C, Paul J, et al. The antibiotic course has had its day. BMJ. 2017;358:j3418.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Dinh A, Ropers J, Duran C, Davido B, Deconinck L, Matt M, et al. Discontinuing β-lactam treatment after 3 days for patients with community-acquired pneumonia in non-critical care wards (PTC): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, non-inferiority trial. Lancet. 2021;397(10280):1195–203.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Lee RA, Stripling JT, Spellberg B, Centor RM. Short-course antibiotics for common infections: what do we know and where do we go from here? Clin Microbiol Infect. 2023;29(2):150–9.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Stupica D, Lusa L, Ruzić-Sabljić E, Cerar T, Strle F. Treatment of erythema migrans with doxycycline for 10 days versus 15 days. Clin Infect Dis. 2012;55(3):343–50.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Stupica D, Collinet-Adler S, Blagus R, Gomišček A, Cerar Kišek T, Ružić-Sabljić E, et al. Treatment of erythema migrans with doxycycline for 7 days versus 14 days in Slovenia: a randomised open-label non-inferiority trial. Lancet Infect Dis. 2022;23:371–9.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Nguala S, Baux E, Patrat-Delon S, Saunier F, Schemoul J, Tattevin P, et al. Methodological quality assessment with the AGREE II scale and a comparison of European and American guidelines for the treatment of Lyme borreliosis: A Systematic Review. Pathogens. 2021;10(8):972.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Sykes RA, Makiello P. An estimate of Lyme borreliosis incidence in Western Europe†. J Public Health. 2017;39(1):74–81.

Google Scholar 

Schwartz AM, Hinckley AF, Mead PS, Hook SA, Kugeler KJ. Surveillance for Lyme disease - United States, 2008–2015. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep Surveill Summ. 2017;66(22):1–12.

Google Scholar 

Nemeth J, Bernasconi E, Heininger U, Abbas M, Nadal D, Strahm C, et al. Update of the Swiss guidelines on post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome. Swiss Med Wkly. 2016;146:w14353.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Berende A, ter Hofstede HJM, Vos FJ, van Middendorp H, Vogelaar ML, Tromp M, et al. Randomized trial of longer-term therapy for symptoms attributed to Lyme disease. N Engl J Med. 2016;374(13):1209–20.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Fallon BA, Keilp JG, Corbera KM, Petkova E, Britton CB, Dwyer E, et al. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of repeated IV antibiotic therapy for Lyme encephalopathy. Neurology. 2008;70(13):992–1003.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Hunfeld KP, Kraiczy P, Kekoukh E, Schäfer V, Brade V. Standardised in vitro susceptibility testing of Borrelia burgdorferi against well-known and newly developed antimicrobial agents–possible implications for new therapeutic approaches to Lyme disease. Int J Med Microbiol IJMM. 2002;291(Suppl 33):125–37.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Hunfeld KP, Kraiczy P, Norris DE, Lohr B. The in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato: shedding light on the known unknowns. Pathog Basel Switz. 2023;12(10):1204.

Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Hunfeld KP, Kraiczy P, Wichelhaus TA, Schäfer V, Brade V. New colorimetric microdilution method for in vitro susceptibility testing of Borrelia burgdorferi against antimicrobial substances. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2000;19(1):27–32.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Hunfeld KP, Wichelhaus TA, Rödel R, Acker G, Brade V, Kraiczy P. Comparison of in vitro activities of ketolides, macrolides, and an azalide against the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2004;48(1):344–7.

Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Agger WA, Callister SM, Jobe DA. In vitro susceptibilities of Borrelia burgdorferi to five oral cephalosporins and ceftriaxone. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1992;36(8):1788–90.

Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Dever LL, Jorgensen JH, Barbour AG. Comparative in vitro activities of clarithromycin, azithromycin, and erythromycin against Borrelia burgdorferi. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1993;37(8):1704–6.

Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Verschoor YL, Vrijlandt A, Spijker R, van Hest RM, Ter Hofstede H, van Kempen K, et al. Persistent Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato infection after antibiotic treatment: systematic overview and appraisal of the current evidence from experimental animal models. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2022;35(4): e0007422.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Shan J, Jia Y, Mijatovic T. Use of specific Borrelia phages as a new strategy for improved diagnostic tests. Methods Mol Biol Clifton NJ [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2025 Feb 20];2742. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38165618/

Cornero R, Irfan SS, Cachaco S, Zhou W, Byne A, Howard M, et al. Identification of unambiguous Borrelia peptides in human urine using affinity capture and mass spectrometry. In: Gilbert L, editor. Borrelia burgdorferi: Methods and Protocols [Internet]. New York, NY: Springer US; 2024 [cited 2025 Feb 20]. p. 105–22. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-3561-2_9

Stanek G, Fingerle V, Hunfeld KP, Jaulhac B, Kaiser R, Krause A, et al. Lyme borreliosis: Clinical case definitions for diagnosis and management in Europe. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2011;17(1):69–79.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, Boutron I, Hoffmann TC, Mulrow CD, The PRISMA, et al. statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ. 2020;2021: n71.

Google Scholar 

Higgins J, Thomas J, Chandler J, Cumpston M, Li T, Page M, et al. Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions - Version 6.4 [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2024 Apr 22]. Available from: https://training.cochrane.org/handbook/current

Balshem H, Helfand M, Schünemann HJ, Oxman AD, Kunz R, Brozek J, et al. GRADE guidelines: 3. Rating the quality of evidence. J Clin Epidemiol. 2011;64(4):401–6.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Chapter 10: Analysing data and undertaking meta-analyses [Internet]. [cited 2024 May 3]. Available from: https://training.cochrane.org/handbook/current/chapter-10

Aberer E, Kahofer P, Binder B, Kinaciyan T, Schauperl H, Berghold A. Comparison of a two- or three-week regimen and a review of treatment of erythema migrans with phenoxymethylpenicillin. Dermatol Basel Switz. 2006;212(2):160–7.

Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Kowalski TJ, Tata S, Berth W, Mathiason MA, Agger WA. Antibiotic treatment duration and long-term outcomes of patients with early Lyme disease from a Lyme disease-hyperendemic area. Clin Infect Dis. 2010;50(4):512–20.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Nowakowski J, Nadelman RB, Forseter G, McKenna D, Wormser GP. Doxycycline versus tetracycline therapy for Lyme disease associated with erythema migrans. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1995;32(2 Pt 1):223–7.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Caperton EM, Heim-Duthoy KL, Matzke GR, Peterson PK, Johnson RC. Ceftriaxone therapy of chronic inflammatory arthritis. A double-blind placebo controlled trial. Arch Intern Med. 1990;150(8):1677–82.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Steere AC, Levin RE, Molloy PJ, Kalish RA, Abraham JH, Liu NY, et al. Treatment of Lyme arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 1994;37(6):878–88.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Bentas W, Karch H, Huppertz HI. Lyme arthritis in children and adolescents: outcome 12 months after initiation of antibiotic therapy. J Rheumatol. 2000;27(8):2025–30.

CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Kortela E, Kanerva MJ, Puustinen J, Hurme S, Airas L, Lauhio A, et al. Oral doxycycline compared to intravenous ceftriaxone in the treatment of Lyme neuroborreliosis: a multicenter, equivalence, randomized, open-label trial. Clin Infect Dis. 2021;72(8):1323–31.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Borg R, Dotevall L, Hagberg L, Maraspin V, Lotric-Furlan S, Cimperman J, et al. Intravenous ceftriaxone compared with oral doxycycline for the treatment of Lyme neuroborreliosis. Scand J Infect Dis. 2005;37(6–7):449–54.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Ljøstad U, Skogvoll E, Eikeland R, Midgard R, Skarpaas T, Berg A, et al. Oral doxycycline versus intravenous ceftriaxone for European Lyme neuroborreliosis: a multicentre, non-inferiority, double-blind, randomised trial. Lancet Neurol. 2008;7(8):690–5.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Dattwyler RJ, Wormser GP, Rush TJ, Finkel MF, Schoen RT, Grunwaldt E, et al. A comparison of two treatment regimens of ceftriaxone in late Lyme disease. Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2005;117(11–12):393–7.

Article  CAS  PubMed 

Comments (0)

No login
gif