Lyme disease: New research on Borrelia burgdorferi persistence

The efficacy and accepted regimen of antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease has been a point of significant contention among physicians and patients. Newly published research finds that the Lyme bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi survive a 28-day course of antibiotics when treated months after infection. In addition, the study also measured the antibody immune response to the bacteria both pre- and post- treatment, as this is how current diagnostics typically evaluate Lyme disease in humans. Lead author of the study, Monica Embers, PhD joined me to discuss the research and it's implications. Dr Embers is an assistant professor of microbiology and immunology at Tulane University School of Medicine and an adviser for the Bay Area Lyme Foundation.