Patient Outcomes with Antibiotic Therapy of Lyme Disease. Abstract and Executive211 Summary

摘要

The report discusses way to improve the quality of care in patients having Lyme211u001edisease by: (1) investigating differences in patients outcomes resulting from 211u001evariations in antibiotic therapy and (2) performing a cost-effective analysis of 211u001ethe management of Lyme disease. Lyme disease is the most important vector-borne 211u001edisease in the United States and impacts upon medical care and health care costs 211u001efar greater than the actual illness it causes. Diagnosis is often uncertain, 211u001etreatment outcomes are problematic and the most cost-effective therapeutic 211u001eregimens are not yet standardized. In addition, with the availability of a 211u001evaccine to prevent Lyme disease, information on the risk of exposure to ticks and 211u001ethe infection and the cost of diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease and 211u001ephysician encounters for tick-bite and suspected Lyme disease is essential for 211u001ehealth care decision making, including the most cost-effective use of the 211u001evaccine. The difference in cost of the most recommended and utilized antibiotic 211u001eregimens are great. The purpose of this project is to determine whether there are 211u001edifferences in the outcomes in patients treated with different antibiotic 211u001eregimens.