Negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the timely diagnosis of tick-borne infections

Gary P Wormser; Eliana Jacobson; Elayna M Shanker

doi:10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2020.115226

Negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the timely diagnosis of tick-borne infections

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2021 Jan;99(1):115226. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2020.115226. Epub 2020 Sep 26.

Authors

Gary P Wormser¹, Eliana Jacobson², Elayna M Shanker²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Infectious Diseases, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595. Electronic address: gwormser@nymc.edu.
² Division of Infectious Diseases, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595.

Abstract

We describe 3 adult patients who did not have COVID-19 but instead had a treatable tick-borne infection. In each case, however, the duration of time until diagnosis was delayed due to issues that have arisen because of the COVID-19 pandemic. These issues need to be addressed to preserve patient well-being.

Keywords: Anaplasmosis; Babesiosis; COVID-19; Lyme disease; Telemedicine.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
COVID-19 / epidemiology*
Delayed Diagnosis
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Pandemics*
SARS-CoV-2
Tick-Borne Diseases / diagnosis*
Tick-Borne Diseases / etiology
Tick-Borne Diseases / therapy