Study summary
Protective effectiveness of long-lasting permethrin-impregnated clothing against tick bites: a randomized controlled trial among outdoor workers
Mitchell C, Dyer M, Lin F-C, Bowman N, Mather T, Meshnick S
- Study type
- Rct
- Year
- 2020
- Published in
- Journal of Medical Entomology 57(5):1532-1538
- Evidence strength
- Definitive evidence
How it was tested
Randomized controlled trial of factory-impregnated permethrin clothing among outdoor workers over two seasons, measuring tick attachment rates.
Summary
Two-year randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial of factory permethrin-impregnated clothing versus sham-treated clothing among 82 outdoor workers in an endemic Lyme-disease region.
Key findings
Permethrin-treated clothing reduced tick bites by 65% in year one and 50% in year two (58% two-year protective effect), with no treatment-related adverse events.
Limitations
Worn on clothing rather than applied to skin; measures tick (not mosquito) bites; protection wanes with laundering and wear.