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Attending Pharmacologist and Research Scientist, Section of Clinical Pharmacology, Departments of Pharmacy/Adult and Pediatric Medicine, Bassett Healthcare, Cooperstown, New York
Published Online, May 3, 2005. www.theannals.com, DOI 10.1345/aph.1G031
Format: This review includes an analysis of the text, with the exception of the 2 chapters authored by this reviewer. The current edition is a 2-volume hardcover text made up of approximately 4016 pages. In addition to the 2 volumes that comprise this edition, buyers also receive a CD -ROM (PC/Mac accessible—Windows 98 or higher necessary) that includes all text illustrations, making them available for PowerPoint presentations or HTML use. Buyers also receive a code to access the text's dedicated Web site, where they can download book illustrations, access the book's content, get weekly updates, and obtain links to MEDLINE/infectious diseases–related sites.
Audience: Considered by many as the "Bible" of infectious diseases, this text and its ancillary offerings are extremely thorough and appropriate for all clinical practitioners and educators regardless of healthcare profession, specialization, or experience level.
Purpose: The first edition's editors realized that, no matter a healthcare professional's background, infectious diseases would always impact their practice. As such, they wanted to compile an authoritative, complete, and readable reference that anyone would find useful to help them understand, diagnose, and treat any potential infectious disease. The current editors have maintained this theme with significant updates to the fifth edition that cover the wide spectrum of significant findings that have been identified in the interim years. Although the text may be a bit too in-depth for regular student teaching, it should be used as a ready reference.
Content: The current edition's organizational structure is similar to that of previous editions, giving the reader 3 ways to approach a problem: (1) by major clinical syndrome, (2) by specific etiology, or (3) by host characteristics for those that are compromised. To achieve this, the text is divided into 4 major parts, with multiple chapters following the part's theme. Part I provides a clear understanding of the concepts of infectious disease diagnosis and management. Chapters include descriptions of microbial virulence factors, host defenses, infectious disease epidemiology, and the clinician and microbiology laboratory. Extensive coverage of antiinfective pharmacology is also discussed. Part II discusses major clinical syndromes, associated etiologic agents, potential diagnostic techniques, and potential treatments/preventions. Part III discusses human-related pathogenic microbes and the diseases they cause, with chapters arranged by pathogen. Pathogens are classified and described, epidemiology is discussed, and clinical manifestations and potential treatments/preventive measures are detailed. Part IV chapters describe special problems such as infections in impaired hosts, bioterrorism, nosocomial infections, immunizations, and protection of travelers. This edition includes many color figures and tables. Due to the lag time between text authoring and publishing, currentness is many times an issue with texts. One advantage that Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases offers in regard to this issue is access to the book's Web site, which provides chapter/topic updates as often as every week.
Usability: In terms of currentness in regard to infectious disease sentient events, this edition has appropriate additions to its contents including reviews on bioterrorism, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) hospital preparedness, and the design/interpretation of infectious disease clinical trials. The majority of chapter references are to primary literature, with appropriate updates since the last edition. Although organism names are always changing, the 2003 reference used in this edition is appropriate based on when the edition was being written. Although the $329 cover price may initially seem high, it is understandable and appropriate when one considers the text's breadth and utility, the inclusion of the text illustration CD -ROM, and the Web site access that allows for image, text, and update access and personal digital assistant downloads.
Highlights: The text's strengths include the depth and scope of the presented material, thoroughness in chapter topic selections, and multiple ways a reader can research a query.
Limitations: The text's thoroughness leaves only a few limitations. A main limitation is that referenced/discussed treatment guidelines will many times be updated in the literature prior to the next edition's publication. As such, anyone interested in researching a disease (ie, sinusitis, community-acquired pneumonia) must remember that, despite a thorough explanation in the text, updated treatment recommendations may have to be obtained from outside sources, especially as time between editions grows.
Comparison with Previous Edition: Current edition updates are both important and appropriate and include discussions of nutrition, immunity, and infection; emerging/re-emerging infectious disease threats; hospital preparedness for emerging and highly contagious infectious diseases such as SARS; new medications; complementary and alternative medicine for infectious disease; new pathogens; and biodefense issues. Deletions from the last edition are minimal and consist of ancillary issues, such as managed care and healthcare reform as it applies to the infectious diseases specialist.
Comparison with Other Related Books/Products: In relation to other infectious diseases texts, Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases is usually considered the gold standard that others are compared with rather than the reverse. Others may offer advantages when they concentrate on specific topics (ie, immunology), disease states, or populations (ie, pediatrics) where the discussions are more in-depth than can be experienced from a single chapter of this text.
Reviewer's Summary: This text continues to be the gold standard infectious diseases reference book, with important new topics incorporated into this edition. Despite its thoroughness, its cost probably prevents many practitioners other than infectious diseases specialists (regardless of healthcare profession) from making it a personal reference purchase. However, it should be considered a necessary addition to medical libraries, healthcare education schools/programs, and any practice group's set of references, as its thoroughness will invite high utility by their members/users.
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