tickborne dx

Question 1

pathogen that causes lyme disease

Answer 1

borrelia burgdorferi, spirochete

Question 2

what kind of reaction can spirochete bacteria cause

Answer 2

jarisch- herxheimer reaction

Question 3

reasons for a negative serology test?

Answer 3

1. antibiotic treated patients within the first few weeks after a tick bite may not have fully developed an antibody response, or may develop an antibody response below detection level. 2. antibodies take a few weeks to develop, so tests performed before this time may be negative even if the person is infected

Question 4

what are the preferred drugs for lyme

Answer 4

doxycycline 100 mg bid, amoxicillin 500 mg tid, cefuroxime 500 mg bid

Question 5

duration of abx for erythema migrans

Answer 5

10d

Question 6

duration of abx for meningitis, etc

Answer 6

14-21d

Question 7

duration of abx for arthritis

Answer 7

28d

Question 8

criteria for lyme prophylaxis

Answer 8

ixodes vector species, bite occurred in a highly endemic area, attached for >36 hours. and within 72 hours of tick removal

Question 9

what’s an alternate drug for LD

Answer 9

azithromycin