Clinical Infectious Disease, 2nd Edition

ISBN: 9781107038912
ISBN-10: 110703891X
Copyright: 2015
Edition: 2nd
Editor: Schlossberg, David
Doody's Expert Review    Score: 96
Reviewer: John Horne,  MD  (VA Medical Center Omaha)
Description
This is the second edition of a book focused on the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. The first edition was published in 2008.
Purpose
The goal, as stated by the editor, is to provide "a complete and user friendly guide to the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases." This is a worthy objective for this broad and dynamic specialty. The publisher accurately describes this book as "positioned between the available encyclopedic tomes and the smaller pocket guides." The book meets the expectations for a quick reference with brief reviews of topics.
Audience
The clinical orientation of the book makes it appropriate for internal medicine and infectious disease physicians as well as infectious disease fellows, internal medicine residents, and medical students. Each chapter is written by an expert in the field.
Features
The book covers a comprehensive list of infectious disease topics, which are discussed in short chapters that review the important clinical information in a few pages. These are grouped into sections such as: clinical syndromes, the susceptible host, HIV, nosocomial infection, infections related to surgery and trauma, prevention of infection, travel and recreation, bioterrorism, specific organisms, and antimicrobial therapy. The short chapters enable readers to get a feel of a subject quickly, with the use of algorithms, tables, and high-quality color pictures. The chapters do not have references; instead they have suggested reading lists.
Assessment
Not intended to provide a complete analysis of a subject, this book works well as a first reference to quickly get an overall understanding of a topic, and if more information is needed provides a suggested reading list at the end of each chapter. I would recommend this book to medical providers who are looking for a clinically-oriented book on infectious disease topics.
Review Questionnaire
Range Question Score
1-10 Are the author's objectives met? 10
1-10 Rate the worthiness of those objectives. 10
1-5 Is this written at an appropriate level? 5
1-5 Is there significant duplication? (1=significant, 5=insignificant) 4
1-5 Are there significant omissions? (1=significant, 5=insignificant) 4
1-5 Rate the authority of the authors. 4
1-5 Are there sufficient illustrations? 5
1-5 Rate the pedagogic value of the illustrations. 5
1-5 Rate the print quality of the illustrations. 5
1-5 Are there sufficient references? 5
1-5 Rate the currency of the references. N/A
1-5 Rate the pertinence of the references. N/A
1-5 Rate the helpfulness of the index. 5
1-5 If important in this specialty, rate the physical appearance of the book 4
1-10 Is this a worthwhile contribution to the field? 10
1-10 If this is a 2nd or later edition, is this new edition needed? 10