title: Patterns of Lyme disease diagnosis and treatment by family physicians in a southeastern state.
abstract: This study examined how often physicians in Georgia diagnose and treat Lyme disease as well as the criteria they use to reach a diagnosis of Lyme disease. A survey was sent to 1,331 family physicians in Georgia concerning how many cases of Lyme disease the physicians diagnosed, and the criteria used to make the diagnosis, during the preceding 12 months. Of 710 responses, 167 physicians treated 316 cases of Lyme disease without a firm diagnosis. In addition, 125 physicians diagnosed 262 cases of Lyme disease, 130 without serologic testing and 132 with serologic testing. Family Physicians in Georgia diagnose Lyme disease at a rate 40 times greater than the surveillance case rate reported in Georgia.
authors.affiliation: Mercer University School of Medicine, Family Health Center, 3780 Eisenhower Parkway, Macon, GA 31206, USA. boltri.john@mccg.org
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Boltri
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Hash
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Vogel
mesh_terms: D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005845:Georgia; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data