IV ceftriaxone versus oral doxycycline for Lyme meningitis in children
Official title: Comparative effectiveness and complications of intravenous ceftriaxone compared with oral doxycycline in Lyme meningitis
Funded at Boston Children's Hospital · NIH-11163246 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project compares IV ceftriaxone and oral doxycycline as treatments for children with Lyme meningitis to find which leads to good recovery with fewer complications.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,701,059 |
| NIH project number | 4R01AI151180-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11163246 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children diagnosed with Lyme meningitis who receive care at one of the participating centers and whose families consent to follow-up are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Adults, patients without Lyme meningitis, or children treated outside participating centers are unlikely to be included or benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
If my child has Lyme meningitis, this project will follow children treated with either IV ceftriaxone or oral doxycycline at 20 centers in U.S. regions where Lyme disease is common. Doctors will pick the treatment as they normally would, and with consent the team will track short-term recovery, complications from IV lines or medications, and long-term quality of life. The study will also gather views from patients, parents, and clinicians about treatment preferences to help shared decision-making. Results aim to clarify which approach balances effectiveness, safety, and burden for families.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could identify a safer, equally effective oral option that avoids IV catheter complications and lowers burdens and costs for children with Lyme meningitis.
How similar studies have gone: European trials in adults and small pediatric observational studies suggest doxycycline can be effective, but strong comparative pediatric data are limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nigrovic, Lise E. — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Nigrovic, Lise E.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.