Guidelines on Lyme disease published in 2006 by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) have been promoted by the UK’s Health Protection Agency (HPA).
May 2008 the Attorney General of Connecticut, Richard Blumenthal, announced the results of an investigation into alleged procedural irregularities in the creation of these guidelines. His team had uncovered serious flaws in the process by which these guidelines were compiled.
As a result of this, the IDSA agreed to convene a review panel to determine whether or not the guidelines should be revised or updated.
April 2009 LDA provided a written submission (PDF) to the IDSA review panel providing evidence that the 2006 IDSA Guidelines for The Clinical Assessment, Treatment, and Prevention of Lyme Disease are not applicable to the UK.
July 2009 An open hearing, broadcast over the internet, was conducted to publicly air views both for and against the 2006 guidelines.
December 2009 The panel was due to issue its final report.
February 2010 The Connecticut Attorney General uncovered voting irregularities in the review panel’s processes.
April 2010 After a long delay, the final report was issued. Although IDSA’s press release was headlined “guidelines upheld”, this was a misrepresentation of the substance of the panel’s report.
April 2010 LDA issued a brief comment (PDF) on the substance of the report which is available to download. A press release (Hiding Behind the Panel) was also issued to inform the UK media.
March 2015 The IDSA published a project plan for a review of the IDSA guidelines and invited public comment. LDA submitted a public comment.
June – August 2019 LDA discussed new draft IDSA Guidelines with other European patient groups. and comments were submitted.