CASES OF LYME BORRELIOSIS RESISTANT TO CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT - IMPROVED SYMPTOMS WITH CEPHALOSPORIN PLUS SPECIFIC BETA-LACTAMASE INHIBITION

We present four cases of verified late Lyme borreliosis with persisten t symptoms and positive serology despite repeated courses of high-dose intravenous penicillin G and/or cephalosporins (including cefoperazon e). The patients were now treated with cefoperazone 2 g plus sulbactam 1 g bid iv for 14 days. At the end of treatment, patients were sympto m free and have remained so for the following 12 months, By then, IgG against Borrelia burgdorferi had decreased. It is concluded that the a ddition of beta-lactamase inhibitors to intravenous treatment could be beneficial in Lyme disease refractory to conventional treatment.