Septic arthritis presenting in the context of Lyme disease — a later-stage manifestation of infection with Borrelia burgdorferi — requires a distinct treatment approach informed by the underlying pathogen, the clinical history, and the geographic exposure pattern.
Lyme arthritis should be suspected when a patient presents with acute-onset arthritis in a Borrelia burgdorferi-endemic area, particularly with a history of a tick bite or a prior erythema migrans rash. This arthritis represents a later-stage complication of Lyme disease and is the clinical context for this protocol.
This first-line protocol centres on a targeted oral antibiotic regimen selected for its activity against Borrelia burgdorferi. The full protocol specifies the preferred agents, the sequence of options, and the criteria for escalation — access the complete regimen below.