From the Guidelines
No, phage therapy is not a recommended or acceptable treatment for chronic Lyme disease at this time. The treatment of chronic Lyme disease typically involves a prolonged course of antibiotics, such as doxycycline 100mg twice daily or amoxicillin 500mg three times daily, for 4-6 weeks or possibly longer in some cases 1.
Key Points to Consider
- Antibiotic therapy: The Infectious Diseases Society of America recommends antibiotic therapy for the treatment of Lyme disease, with doxycycline and amoxicillin being the preferred oral regimens 1.
- Phage therapy: There is no mention of phage therapy in the provided guidelines, suggesting that it is not a recommended treatment for Lyme disease at this time.
- Experimental therapies: Alternative or experimental therapies like phage therapy may not be supported by sufficient clinical evidence and may pose unknown risks to patients, and should be approached with caution and only considered under the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional in a clinical trial setting or with careful monitoring. Some patients may require intravenous antibiotic therapy, such as ceftriaxone, for the treatment of late neurologic disease or other complications of Lyme disease 1.
Important Considerations
- Coinfection: Patients with Lyme disease may also be coinfected with other tick-borne illnesses, such as human granulocytic anaplasmosis or babesiosis, and may require additional treatment 1.
- Prevention: Preventive measures, such as avoiding tick bites and using insect repellents, are also important in reducing the risk of Lyme disease 1. It is essential to note that the provided guidelines do not support the use of phage therapy for the treatment of Lyme disease, and antibiotic therapy remains the recommended treatment 1.
From the Research
Phage Therapy for Chronic Lyme Disease
- Phage therapy has been explored as a potential treatment for chronic Lyme disease, with studies suggesting its effectiveness in eliminating Borrelia species [ 2 ].
- A retrospective review of 26 patients with post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome found that 92% of patients were successfully treated with Induced Native Phage Therapy (INPT), with mild to substantial clinical improvements reported by all participants [ 2 ].
- The use of phage therapy to treat long-standing, persistent, or chronic bacterial infections, including those caused by Borrelia species, has been supported by published data [ 3 ].
Safety and Efficacy of Phage Therapy
- Phage therapy has been found to be relatively safe and efficacious in immunocompetent patients, with data suggesting its potential use in immunocompromised patients as well [ 4 ].
- Modern clinical evidence suggests that phages can serve as effective anti-bacterial infection agents, with about half of published reports indicating phage-mediated efficacy [ 5 ].
Potential of Phage Therapy for Chronic Lyme Disease
- The use of INPT, which induces native phages to eliminate Borrelia species, may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for chronic Lyme disease [ 2 ].
- Further research is needed to fully explore the potential of phage therapy for chronic Lyme disease, including its safety, efficacy, and optimal treatment protocols [ 2, 3, 5(https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.14319, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addr.2019.01.009, https://doi.org/10.3390/ph14030064) ].