Current methods of treatment and prevention of Lyme borreliosis – literature review

Introduction andObjective.Lyme borreliosis is a disease caused by infection with spirochetes of the genus Borrelia through the transmission of these bacteria by Ixodes ticks.The bacteria spread from the bite site through the bloodstream to distant organs, causing specific symptoms.A characteristic erythema migrans may occur at the site of the bite.The aim of the study is to summarize current guidelines and review articles on the treatment and prevention of this disease.Review Methods.Articles were searched by combinations of of key words, such as: Lyme disease, treatment, prevention, in PubMed databases.Scientific articles covering the period 2016-2024 account for 92% of all references.Guidelines from European and American societies of epidemiologists, infectious disease physicians, neurologists, and studies from specialized research centres, including meta-analyses, double-blind randomized trials and case reports were considered.Studies from inexperienced centres with outdated studies that do not follow the latest guidelines were rejected.Brief description of the state of knowledge.Current treatments for Lyme borreliosis are based on antibiotic therapy for clinical symptoms, and symptomatic treatment in the absence of response to antibiotic therapy.In specific prophylaxis, an antibiotic is recommended post-exposure in some cases.For non-specific prophylaxis, it is recommended to follow the rules for preventing tick bite.Summary.Currently, the treatment of Lyme disease is mainly based on antibiotic therapy.Depending on the clinical manifestation, treatment is based on different antibiotics with a treatment duration of no more than 28 days.Adherence to prophylactic recommendations helps reduce the risk of infection.The development of a human vaccine is still under intensive development.