Antimicrobial Chemotherapy

The essence of this book is to describe the basic properties of antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents and to discuss the principles underlying the rational use of antimicrobial agents in the management of infection. The aim is to encourage good prescribing habits in doctors throughout the world. After a short historical introduction, the text deals with the general properties of antimicrobial compounds of all kinds (antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiprotozoal and anthelminthic agents); laboratory aspects of antimicrobial chemotherapy (including antibiotic interactions and use of the laboratory); resistance to antimicrobial agents (including mechanisms of resistance and the control of resistance);general principles of antibiotic usage (including pharmacokinetic issues, the prophylactic use of antibiotics, and special concerns of treatment of young children and the elderly) and the use of antimicrobial therapy in specific types of infection. There is a postscript on the development and marketing of antimicrobial agents.Reviews of previous editions: 'This reasonably priced volume is recommended without reservation for students and junior doctors, pharmacists, laboratory and other health care staff. I would also recommend it for microbiology departmental libraries.' Journal of Infection'...... well written, accomplishing the stated aims. All tables are essential to the discussion and easy to understand. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education'The new edition retains the formula-winning layout of the first edition ... It is, to my knowledge, the only authoritative book written at this level, and it is required reading for students. Journal ofHospital Infection'The book covers an enormous amount of material, dealing as it does with antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoan and antiviral agents. Almost every aspect is covered ... the authors have in general managed to distil into the text the essential elements of the topics and ensure that the treatment is not superficial ... this paperback edition ... is very good value for money. It can truly be considered to cover, at a basic level, "all you need to know" about antimicrobial chemotherapy and can be highly recommended for junior clinical staff, pharmacy staff and junior biomedical scientists; their more senior colleagues will also find much of value in this new edition of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.' British Journal of Biomedical Science'This updated textbook provides young doctors and students with the fundamental principles of antimicrobial chemotherapy. This third edition has been thoroughly revised and extensively rewritten. Drugs of Today'...excellently suited for trainee nurses, pharmacists and medical laboratory science officers ... Its short, but comprehensive covering of the topic make it highly advisable for everyone looking for basic knowledge of the properties and uses of antimicrobial drugs.' Infection'I think this is a useful reference textbook which undergraduate medical students will find beneficial in coming to grips with the principles of antimicrobial chemotherapy.' Journal of Medical Microbiology"

This book will help students and other to develop a firm grasp of the principles underlying the use of antimicrobial drugs, while encouraging responsible prescription of these often misused therapeutic tools. The book has been thoroughly revised to provide the latest information on the AIDS pandemic and its attendant opportunistic infections, as well as many recent advances in the field. Many chapters have been rewritten to include a wealth of new material, and handsome illustrations throughout help to clarify the text. The contributors are R.G. Finch, D. Greenwood, P. Ispahani Dip Bact, M.J. Lewis, and R.C.B. Slack.

David W. Hecht

This is the third edition of a widely published book covering the general characteristics and principles governing the use of antimicrobial agents in clinical medicine. The goal is to introduce medical students to the general properties of antibiotics, the role of the laboratory in clinical decision making, the importance of antibiotic resistance, and the basic principles in antibiotic treatment strategies. The objectives are important ones for all practitioners and are generally met in this introductory text. It is appropriately suited as an introductory text for freshman or sophomore medical and pharmacy students. The references are a list of suggested readings divided into topics. Overall, the list is somewhat broad and is limited to more recent contributions to the field. Despite the emphasis on antimicrobial resistance, there are few suggested readings on this topic. This edition is a significantly updated version of a widely known text that introduces the beginning medical student to the broad topic of antimicrobial chemotherapy. It provides an assimilation of diverse topics covering the general properties of antibiotics and their use and will serve as a ready source of general information on this important topic. This latest edition includes substantial new material and is an important replacement of the earlier texts.

The fifth edition of this successful book encourages good prescribing habits in doctors throughout the world, by describing the basic properties of antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents, and discussing the principles underlying the rational use of antimicrobial agents in the management of infection.