Resources for Clinicians
Diagnosis, Treatment and Testing
- Treatment
- 2006 IDSA Treatment Guidelines
- Two-tier testing explained
- Tests that are NOT recommended (including CD57, urine antigen testng, etc.)
- New Handbook – Tickborne Diseases of the United States: A Reference Manual for Health Care Providers, Second Edition. [PDF - 21 pages]
Videos
Recognizing Lyme Carditis
CDC Expert Commentary, January 2014
Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness -- When a Bull's-Eye Rash Isn't Lyme Disease
CDC Expert Commentary, March 2013
PCR for Diagnosis of Lyme Disease: Is It Useful? An update on testing for Lyme disease is provided in this commentary from the CDC.
CDC Expert Commentary, June 2012
Two-tier testing for Lyme disease:
The Two-tier Testing Decision Tree describes the steps required to properly test for Lyme disease.
Understanding laboratory test results:
The likelihood that a patient has a disease depends on many factors. The illustration depicts the likelihood of false positive and false negative test results based on whether a particular disease is common or rare in a given setting.
Continuing Medical Education for Clinicians
- A free, CDC-sponsored Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) help providers learn to properly identify and treat tickborne diseases (CME/CNE/CECH available): Tickborne Diseases: A Springtime Review of Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention.
- As a service to clinicians, CDC has supported the development of an online CME Case Study Course on the Clinical Assessment, Treatment, and Prevention of Lyme Disease. This free, interactive course consists of a series of case studies designed to educate clinicians regarding the proper diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease. Each case is accredited for .25 CME credits, for a maximum of 1.5 CME. There is no cost for these credits.
- The National Association of School Nurses presents an online course titled “Tick-borne Illness: Prevention, Assessment and Care” that focuses on clinical care of tickborne diseases in school and camp settings. CNE is available.
Lyme Disease Self Assessment
From the American College of Physicians (ACP) Initiative on Lyme Disease--an online quiz containing six clinical scenarios regarding the evaluation and treatment of Lyme disease.
Case Definition and Report Forms
- Lyme Disease Surveillance Case Definition (revised Jan 2011)
- Lyme Disease Surveillance Case Report Form [PDF - 2 pages] (for public health officials' use)
Note: Surveillance case definitions establish uniform criteria for disease reporting and should not be used as the sole criteria for establishing clinical diagnoses, determining the standard of care necessary for a particular patient, setting guidelines for quality assurance, or providing standards for reimbursement.
Contact Us:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Bacterial Diseases Branch
Foothills Campus
Fort Collins, CO 80521 - 800-CDC-INFO
(800-232-4636)
TTY: (888) 232-6348 - Contact CDC–INFO