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Researchers find quicker, more effective treatment for Lyme disease

Category: Lyme Disease

Following a positive Lyme disease test, patients are generally prescribed a round of antibiotic treatment that may last for several weeks. However, a team of researchers recently reported that there may be a simpler way to treat the infection.

Investigators from Ludwig Maximilian University in Germany found that the application of a local antibacterial gel to the site of a bug bite that transmitted the infection may quickly kill the bacteria responsible for the disease.

Not only would this therapeutic approach be easier for patients to complete, it would also limit the risk of side effects associated with taking general antibiotics. This could significantly improve treatment outcomes.

The therapy still needs to be tested in humans, as the current trial involved testing on animals. However, the researchers said they believe that if it turns out to be as effective in people as it has proven to be animals it could represent a significant advancement in the treatment of Lyme disease.

The treatment is currently being tested in humans as part of a Phase III clinical trial, which means that if it is proven effective, it could be approved relatively soon.