CDC Warning to State Health Departments- Chronic Lyme Disease

From: Perea, Anna E. (CDC/OID/NCEZID)

Sent: Thursday, June 15, 2017 1:12 PM

Subject: MMWR today

Hello Vector-borne Colleagues,

We’re sending this note to let you know that an MMWR titled, “Serious Bacterial Infections Acquired During Treatment of Patients Given a Diagnosis of Chronic Lyme Disease — United States” was published today at https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6623a3.htm?s_cid=mm6623a3_w. The report describes five cases involving patients who suffered serious adverse medical outcomes from prolonged treatment with antibiotics for what some refer to as chronic Lyme disease, when in fact most of them likely didn’t have Lyme disease.

One of the key objectives of publishing this paper is to demonstrate instances in which the incorrect diagnosis of Lyme disease and treatment with long-term antibiotics had devastating health effects, including death. Consequently, patients and health care providers should be aware of the risks of long-term and alternative treatments. Finally, we want patients who have an illness with symptoms compatible with Lyme disease need to be diagnosed correctly and treated properly as quickly as possible. We want people to get the right diagnosis and the appropriate care.

We know that your organizations may receive questions about this report, so please let us know if you have any questions for us.

Thank you,

Anna Perea

Policy and Communications Lead

Bacterial Diseases Branch | Division of Vector-Borne Diseases

National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Fort Collins, CO | 970-494-6545 | aperea@cdc.gov