What do you find to be the most successful treatment approach for Bartonella?
I use a macrolide and Mycobutin (Rifabutin). Sulfa-drugs can be useful but generally are not nearly as effective. I don’t like using quinolones due to problems such as myalgias, arthralgias, and tendonitis which may be experienced with Levaquin. These are generally an independent action of the drug and do not signify a die-off reaction. With Babesia, when you notice that the sweats are gone and stop treatment, do you believe that the organisms are fully eradicated? No. I believe that certainly Borrelia and likely Babesia and Bartonella and likely other co-infections cannot be totally eradicated. The goal is to get people to a state of remission. When the diagnosis is made, I tell patients that the goal is to get them to a level of functionality and quality of life that they feel is normal and that does not require antibiotics to sustain. We recognize that the goal represents remission, not cure. With cure, you do not expect any recurrence of symptoms unless there is a re-exposure. With
