Via practica 4/2007

AZITHROMYCIN USE IN THE TREATMENT OF ERYTHEMA MIGRANS

Treatment of erythema migrans – which is reached to early localized stage of Lyme borreliosis is started prior recieving of serology data. In our conditions are drugs of first choice amoxycillin, azithromycin, ceforoxim – axetile, doxycycline and penicillin (drugs are listed in alphabetical order). Treatment duration varies from 10 to 21 days, azithromycin is used only during 5 days. Total dose of azithromycin is 3 grams. Azithromycin is drug with favourable minimal inhibitory concentration, minimal bactericidal concentration and high tissue levels in erythema migrans The other advantages of azithromycin are excellent safety profile and economy of treatment. Unique dosage of azithromycin is associated with favourable compliance, patients use azithromycin for 5 days, time of azithromycin use is shorter than average duration of erythema migrans (8,5 days). Treatment of erythema migrans with azithromycin was associated in metaanalyse of 6 trials with the same clinical efficacy as treatment of erythema migrans with doxycycline and amoxycillin.Authors present data of patients wich were treated with azithromycin in their clinic. Three different dosage regimens were used.

Keywords: Lyme borreliosis, erythema migrans, azithromycin.