Top 4 types of antibiotics
There are many types of antibiotics; but, according to Deutsche Borreliose-Gesellschaft’s “Diagnosis and Treatment of Lyme borreliosis Guidelines”, only a few have proved effective against the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. These antibiotics are:
- Tetracyclines and gycylcyclines
- Macrolides
- Betalactams
- Nitroimidazoles
Unsuitable antibiotics
The following antibiotics are not suitable for treating Lyme disease, but are sometimes prescribed by doctors without adequate Lyme knowledge.
- Carboxypenicillins
- Acylaminopenicillins (supposedly effective; no clinical experience; usually employed in the treatment of inpatients)
- First generation cephalosporins (cefazolin, cefotoxitin)
- Oral first and second generation cephalosporins, except for cefuroxime axetil
- Quinolones
- Aminoglycosides
- Chloramphenicol
- Clindamycin
- Glycopeptide antibiotics
- Folate antagonists (except for trimethoprim according to Gasser(51))
- Cotrimoxazole
- Atovaquone
- Nitrofurans
- Erythromycin
Learn more about antibiotic treatment by downloading Deutsche Borreliose-Gesellschaft’s “Diagnosis and Treatment of Lyme borreliosis Guidelines”.