An Introduction to Human Babesiosis

0.25 CME. In the first study of its kind, two Lyme disease experts gathered data on a question frequently asked by tick-borne disease patients: Why is it so hard to find a Lyme-treating physician, when the need is so great? There are 476,000 new Lyme cases annually, reported from all 50 states, per the CDC. This course answers these questions based on data from a survey of 155 clinicians from 30 states who treat Lyme patients. The study’s goal was to identify the problems that clinicians face when treating these patients, a first step to overcoming these obstacles.

Instructor

Elizabeth L. Maloney, MD
Education Co-director, VectorWise CME

Description

This course teaches how to diagnose and treat infections caused by babesia, a malaria-like protozoan parasite that can be transmitted through tick bites, blood transfusions, and organ transplants, or congenitally from mother to fetus. The course also discusses the global distribution of babesia and a new species of babesia, B. odocoilei, which may be causing unrecognized disease.

Learning objectives

Describe the epidemiology of Babesiosis in the US
Identify the signs and symptoms of Babesiosis
Discuss the types and limitations of diagnostic testing
Discuss treatment approaches for Babesiosis

Accreditation Statement

This session, An Introduction to Human Babesiosis, is approved for 0.25 enduring AAFP Prescribed credits.

The AAFP has reviewed VectorWise CME, and deemed it acceptable for AAFP credit. Term of approval is from 05/15/2025 to 05/14/2026. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

AAFP Prescribed credit is accepted by the American Medical Association as equivalent to AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™ toward the AMA Physician’s Recognition Award. When applying for the AMA PRA, Prescribed credit earned must be reported as Prescribed, not as Category 1.

Evidence-based bibliography for further study

Swanson M, Pickrel A, Williamson J, Montgomery S. Trends in Reported Babesiosis Cases – United States, 2011-2019. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2023 Mar 17;72(11):273-277. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7211a1. PMID: 36928071; PMCID: PMC10027409.
Gray EB, Herwaldt BL. Babesiosis Surveillance – United States, 2011-2015. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2019 May 31;68(6):1-11. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.ss6806a1. PMID: 31145719.
Bloch EM, Day JR, Krause PJ, Kjemtrup A, O’Brien SF, Tobian AAR, Goel R. Epidemiology of Hospitalized Patients with Babesiosis, United States, 2010-2016. Emerg Infect Dis. 2022 Feb;28(2):354–62. doi: 10.3201/eid2802.210213. PMID: 35076004; PMCID: PMC8798708.
Vannier EG, Diuk-Wasser MA, Ben Mamoun C, Krause PJ. Babesiosis. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2015 Jun;29(2):357-70. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2015.02.008. PMID: 25999229; PMCID: PMC4458703.
Nassar Y, Richter S. Babesiosis Presenting as Acute Liver Failure. Case Rep Gastroenterol. 2017 Dec 18;11(3):769-773. doi: 10.1159/000485373. PMID: 29430231; PMCID: PMC5803690.
Ortiz JF, Millhouse PW, Morillo Cox Á, Campoverde L, Kaur A, Wirth M, Atoot A. Babesiosis: Appreciating the Pathophysiology and Diverse Sequela of the Infection. Cureus. 2020 Oct 21;12(10):e11085. doi: 10.7759/cureus.11085. PMID: 33224678; PMCID: PMC7678756.

About the Instructor

Elizabeth L. Maloney, MD

Education Co-Director, VectorWise CME; Partnership for Tick-borne Diseases Education

Dr. Maloney is a Minnesota family physician whose current focus is on tick-borne diseases education and policy. She began providing comprehensive, evidence-based, continuing medical education courses for physicians in 2007 and subsequently founded Partnership for Tick-borne Diseases Education, a non-profit providing evidence-based continuing medical education programming and materials on tick borne diseases. She has authored several peer-reviewed papers and treatment guidelines on Lyme disease and is currently a member of the federally mandated Tick-Borne Diseases Working Group (TBDWG). She is currently the Education Co-director at VectorWise CME.