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1: Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2002 Aug;3(8):1109-15.Click here to read Links
Comment in:
Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2002 Nov;3(11):1541-2.

Babesiosis in humans: a treatment review.

Weiss LM.

Division of Infectious Diseases, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Room 504 Forchheimer Building, Bronx, New York, 10461, USA. lmweiss@aecom.yu.edu

Human infections with Babesia species, in particular Babesia microti, are tick-borne illnesses that are being recognised with increased frequency. Coinfection with ehrlichiosis and Lyme disease is also being recognised as an important feature of these tick-borne illnesses. Despite the superficial resemblance of Babesia to malaria, these piroplasms do not respond to chloroquine or other similar drugs. However, the treatment of babesiosis using a clindamycin-quinine combination has been successful. Data in animal models and case-reports in humans have suggested that an atovaquone-azithromycin combination is also effective. This was confirmed in a recent prospective, open, randomised trial of clindamycin-quinine versus azithromycin-atovaquone. This paper reviews the literature on the treatment of human babesiosis and the animal models of these human pathogens.

PMID: 12150690 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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