http://lymediseasechallenge.org/research-persistent-infection/
Is There Really Chronic Lyme Disease?
There is an abundant, growing body of research evidencing persistent infection after standard courses of antibiotic treatment for Lyme Disease, often leading to chronic, debilitating illness. Lyme patients desperately need research to develop more effective treatments.
Health Care Costs, Utilization and Patterns of Care following Lyme Disease http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0116767
Severity of Chronic Lyme Disease compared to other chronic conditions: A Quality of Life Survey PeerJ Quality of Life Survey
An Optimized SYBR Green I/PI Assay for Rapid Viability Assessment and Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing for Borrelia burgdorferi http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0111809
Drug Combinations against Borrelia burgdorferi Persisters In Vitro: Eradication Achieved by Using Daptomycin, Cefoperazone and Doxycycline http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0117207
Identification of novel activity against Borrelia burgdorferi persisters using an FDA approved drug library http://www.nature.com/emi/journal/v3/n7/full/emi201453a.html
Counterpoint: Long-Term Antibiotic Therapy Improves Persistent Symptoms Associated with Lyme Disease https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/45/2/149/420106/Counterpoint-Long-Term-Antibiotic-Therapy-Improves
Resurgence of Persisting Non-Cultivable Borrelia burgdorferi following Antibiotic Treatment in Mice http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0086907
Persistence of Borrelia burgdorferi in Rhesus Macaques following Antibiotic Treatment of Disseminated Infection http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0029914
Characterization of Biofilm Formation by Borrelia burgdorferi In Vitro http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0048277
Researchers at Brown University poke holes in the Klempner study, which the IDSA uses to justify denying long-term treatment to Lyme patients http://www.lymedisease.org/retreatment-study-flawed/
Identification of new compounds with high activity against stationary phase Borrelia burgdorferi from the NCI compound collection http://www.nature.com/emi/journal/v4/n6/full/emi201531a.html
Eradication of Biofilm-Like Microcolony – Structures of Borrelia burgdorferi by Daunomycin and Daptomycin but not Mitomycin C in Combination with Doxycycline and Cefuroxime http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2016.00062/full
List of 700 articles citing chronic infection associated with tick-borne disease compiled by Dr. Robert Bransfield http://www.ilads.org/ilads_news/2017/list-of-700-articles-citing-chronic-infection-associated-with-tick-borne-disease-compiled-by-dr-robert-bransfield/
A Drug Combination Screen Identifies Drugs Active against Amoxicillin-induced Round Bodies of Borrelia burgdorferi Persisters from an FDA Drug Library http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2016.00743/full
Lastly, microbiologist Holly Ahern points out that stating that only 10-20% go on to develop symptoms is inaccurate: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/02/25/medical-stalemate-what-causes-continuing-symptoms-after-lyme-treatment/
In short, the 10-20% is a group that was diagnosed and treated early. There’s another larger group, approximately 30-40%, that was diagnosed and treated late that develops chronic symptoms. When you add the two groups:
60% of all patients could go onto develop life-long symptoms
Madison Area Lyme Support Group 