Surveillance Database.

Long term collection and analysis of Lyme disease data through a surveillance database offers the opportunity to identify new patterns in Lyme disease management. The Lyme disease surveillance launched in June 1997 examines all Lyme disease patients evaluated in a primary care setting situated in a hyperendemic area of the Northeast United States.

There are three important reasons for maintaining a primary care setting Lyme disease surveillance database:

1. Education: The data collected and maintained in the surveillance database serves as a valuable resource for researchers interested in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease.

2. Research: Statistical reports of surveillance data enable physicians who treat Lyme disease patients to evaluate the success of specific antibiotics treatment. Results have been presented through periodic reports at local and International Lyme disease meetings. Results have been used to model the current retreatment clinical trials.

3. Public Health: The registry results have been used to increase awareness of outcome of persistent and recurrent chronic Lyme disease and evaluate public policy and education. Be a service to local areas for planning of health care services and investigation of persistent, recurrent, and refractory Lyme disease.

The LymeProject Surveillance database is an ongoing prospective study of the natural and treated histories of Lyme disease conducted in a primary care office located in Mt. Kisco, New York, U.S.A.. From June 1997 through April 2002, 2500 adolescents and adults were observed. Results have been presented through periodic reports at local and International Lyme disease meetings. Results have been used to model the current retreatment clinical trials.

What is the Lyme disease Surveillance Database?

The Surveillance Data base is a patient registry of all patients evaluated in primary care setting situated in a hyperendemic area of the Northeast United States with Lyme disease. We developed and maintain the registry database and present periodic reports at local and International Lyme disease meetings. The registry results have been used to increase clinician awareness of outcome of persistent and recurrent chronic Lyme disease and to model our retreatment clinical trials.

How many patients are represented in the surveillance database?

The database contains over 2000 patients with Lyme disease, including those that are persistent and recurrent. As the database grows to include all consecutively evaluated patients from the practice, the number of chronic Lyme disease conditions in the database will grow.