Combination Antibiotic Therapy Outperforms Monotherapy in New Treatment Study

Frontiers (Alruwaili, Y., et al.) 11.21.2023, published “Superior efficacy of combination antibiotic therapy versus monotherapy in a mouse model of Lyme disease.” This article delves into Lyme disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a prevalent tick-borne infection in North America. While most cases are treatable with antibiotics, a subset of patients experiences chronic symptoms known as Post-Treatment Lyme Disease due to incomplete or delayed treatment.

The study explores the effectiveness of various drug combinations in eradicating persistent B. burgdorferi in mice following infection. Monotherapy with single drugs did not completely clear the infection, but specific dual and triple combinations showed promise in eliminating the persistent bacteria. Certain combinations (like doxycycline + ceftriaxone + carbomycin) successfully eliminated B. burgdorferi in the mice. 

This suggests that combination therapy might be a more effective approach in treating Lyme disease and preventing persistent infection, particularly in cases where monotherapy fails. The research explores the potential of combination therapy as an alternative treatment regimen to effectively address persistent B. burgdorferi infection, shedding light on a promising avenue for future Lyme disease treatments.

For more information:

Read the full article on the Frontiers website here.

Read additional articles on Borrelia burgdorferi and Lyme on LDA’s website here.