From the Research
Lyme disease should be treated with piperacillin, which has been shown to specifically target Borrelia burgdorferi at low-nanomolar concentrations without affecting the murine microbiome, as demonstrated in a recent study published in 2025 1.
Treatment Options
The treatment of Lyme disease depends on the stage and severity of the disease.
- For early localized disease, piperacillin is a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics 1.
- For more advanced disease with neurological or cardiac involvement, intravenous ceftriaxone 2g daily for 14-28 days may be necessary, as supported by previous studies 2, 3, 4.
Symptoms and Prevention
Symptoms of Lyme disease include a characteristic bull's-eye rash called erythema migrans, fever, fatigue, headache, and muscle and joint pain.
- Prevention involves wearing protective clothing in tick-infested areas, using insect repellent containing DEET, checking for ticks after outdoor activities, and removing attached ticks promptly with fine-tipped tweezers 2, 3.
Efficacy and Safety of Antibiotics
A network meta-analysis published in 2021 found that amoxicillin, azithromycin, ceftriaxone, and cefotaxime were effective for treating Lyme disease, but did not observe significant efficacy and safety of doxycycline for treating Lyme disease 5.
Recent Findings
A recent study published in 2025 identified piperacillin as a preexisting beta-lactam that specifically treats Lyme disease in mice, offering a potential alternative to traditional antibiotics 1.