Antimicrobial Agents: Antibacterials and Antifungals Doody's Expert Review Review Questionnaire ISBN: 9781555812379 ISBN-10: 1555812376 Copyright: 2005 Edition: 1st Editor: Bryskier, Andre Doody's Expert Review    Score: 96 Doody's Star Rating™ and Doody's Expert Review provide by Doody Enterprises, Inc. Reviewer: Rebecca Horvat,  PhD, D(ABMM)  (University of Kansas Medical Center) Description This is a comprehensive reference on antibiotics and antifungal agents. The chapters are arranged in a systematic fashion and cover each class of antibiotics as well as the mechanism of antibiotic resistance. Purpose According to the author, the purpose is to "bring together as much information as possible on the subject of antimicrobial agents." He has accomplished this purpose and this is a remarkable reference book! I am not aware of another publication with so much information on antimicrobial agents. Audience This is a book that should be used by all individuals studying, testing, or prescribing antibiotics. The authors studiously explain each antibiotic by structure, function, metabolic activity, and antimicrobial mechanism of action. They also look at the antibiotic from the bacterial view, thus explaining how antibiotic resistance occurs. In addition, new drugs under development are evaluated by comparison with antibiotics currently in use. This is a treasure trove of useful information. Features This book will become the ultimate reference for understanding antibiotics. The first few chapters summarize the history of antibiotic development and the different antibiotic classes. The remaining chapters systematically detail the various classes of antibiotics. Numerous figures show the structure of the antimicrobial molecules and how the structure is modified as new agents are generated. As I read through the first chapters, I was reminded again of the great miracle that antibiotics provide to mankind and the great scientists that committed themselves to this endeavor. We must use the information in this book to go forward with the struggle to overcome bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Assessment This is a second edition of a book that was first published in French. I would highly recommend to the large audience of scientists who study antimicrobial agents. As we move from the era of antibiotic development to antibiotic resistance, a complete understanding of these agents and the history behind their development is needed. This book will become the "go-to" reference for researchers, pharmacists, pharmacologists, microbiologists, and infectious disease physicians as we struggle to fight antibiotic resistance. 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. 4 1-5 Are there sufficient references? 5 1-5 Rate the currency of the references. 5 1-5 Rate the pertinence of the references. 5 1-5 Rate the helpfulness of the index. 5 1-5 If important in this specialty, rate the physical appearance of the book N/A 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 ©2024 Doody Enterprises, Inc.