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Lyme Disease Prophylaxis by Single-Dose Doxycycline in the United States, 2010-2020

Grace E Marx1, Alyssa Beck2, Cate Corey3

  • 1Division of Vector-borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.

Open Forum Infectious Diseases
|October 30, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Single-dose doxycycline prevents Lyme disease after tick bites. However, this Lyme disease prophylaxis may be underused in children, despite its importance.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Lyme disease is a significant public health concern, disproportionately affecting children.
  • Tick bites pose a risk for Lyme disease transmission.
  • Single-dose doxycycline is an effective preventive measure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the utilization of single-dose doxycycline for Lyme disease postexposure prophylaxis.
  • To identify patient demographics receiving this prophylactic treatment.
  • To assess potential underprescription in specific populations.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of outpatient dispensing data in the United States.
  • Inclusion of patients receiving at least one dispensing of doxycycline.
  • Data collected over a 10-year period (2010-2020).

Main Results:

  • A total of 427,105 patients received single-dose doxycycline dispensings.
  • The majority of patients receiving this prophylaxis were aged 65 years and older.
  • Analysis suggests potential underprescription among pediatric populations.

Conclusions:

  • Single-dose doxycycline is a recognized strategy for preventing Lyme disease post-tick bite.
  • Current prescribing patterns indicate a potential gap in its use for children.
  • Further research and targeted interventions may be needed to ensure optimal prophylaxis for at-risk pediatric populations.

Keywords:
Lyme diseasePEPdoxycyclinepostexposure prophylaxistick bite

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