title: Failure of topical antibiotics to prevent disseminated Borrelia burgdorferi infection following a tick bite in C3H/HeJ mice.
abstract: A prior study in mice has shown that the timely application of topical antibiotics to the skin at the tick bite site could eradicate Borrelia burgdorferi infection. That study, however, did not evaluate antibiotic preparations that are considered suitable for use in humans. In this murine study, topical application of 2% erythromycin and 3% tetracycline preparations that are acceptable for use in humans was found to be ineffective in eliminating B. burgdorferi from the tick bite site or in preventing dissemination to other tissues. Reasons for the discrepant findings are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA. gary_wormser@nymc.edu
authors.forename: Gary P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Wormser
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bittker
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Guiqing
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Charles S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Pavia
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000382:microbiology; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004917:Erythromycin; D013752:Tetracycline