Evaluation of the Clinical Relevance of Vancomycin for the Treatment of Lyme Disease

Authors

Gary P. Wormser, Division of Infectious Diseases, New York Medical College, 40 Sunshine Cottage Road, Skyline Office #2N-F05, 10595, Valhalla, NY, USA. gwormser@nymc.edu.
Alan G. Barbour, Departments of Medicine and Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, University of California Irvine, 92697, Irvine, CA, USA.

Author Type(s)

Faculty

Journal Title

Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift

First Page

185

Last Page

189

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-1-2023

Department

Medicine

Abstract

Vancomycin is active in vitro and in vivo in mouse systems against Lyme disease borrelia; however, there are no published data on the efficacy of vancomycin in patients with Lyme disease and no convincing theoretical advantages of vancomycin over the currently used and highly effective orally administered antimicrobial agents, including doxycycline, amoxicillin and cefuroxime axetil. In addition, vancomycin may cause a wide variety of potentially serious adverse effects and requires the placement of an intravenous catheter. It is concluded that vancomycin is a much less attractive option for the treatment of patients with early Lyme disease (or any other manifestation of Lyme disease), compared with the antimicrobials currently being used. Based on available evidence, clinical studies to evaluate the safety and efficacy of vancomycin for Lyme disease cannot be recommended.

Recommended Citation

Wormser, G. P., & Barbour, A. G. (2023). Evaluation of the Clinical Relevance of Vancomycin for the Treatment of Lyme Disease. Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift, 135 (7-8), 185-189. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-019-1505-6