Infectious Diseases of the Respiratory Tract

Features

• Cover Type: Hard Cover with 615 pages
• Published by: Cambridge University Press
• Edition: 1st Edition February 13, 1998
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0521405548
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0521405546
• Book Dimensions: 11 x 8.7 x 1.5 inches
• Weighs: 4.6 pounds

From The New England Journal of Medicine, October 29, 1998
The most serious of all infections of the respiratory tract in terms of morbidity, mortality, and cost is pneumonia. It is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for 600,000 hospital admissions and 64 million days of restricted activity each year. Pneumonia, Sir William Osler's "captain of the men of death," is an illness that is subject to great variation in all aspects of its management: hospital admission rates for pneumonia differ by a factor of four to five from one county to the next; the length of stay, even in this era of managed care, varies from institution to institution (in Canada in 1997, the length of stay varied by a factor of two in a 20-center study of pneumonia); and the type and duration of antibiotic therapy are subject to the same degree of variation.

Although there are more than 100 known microbial causes of pneumonia, the cause of up to 50 percent of all cases of community-acquired pneumonia requiring admission to the hospital is unknown. This may be because there are pathogens still waiting to be discovered or because of inadequate diagnostic techniques. Pneumonia is an ever-changing disease -- the worldwide spread of penicillin-resistant and, indeed, multidrug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae has necessitated a change in our therapeutic approach to pneumonia.

Infectious Diseases of the Respiratory Tract mixes a traditional and a novel approach to this subject. The traditional approach is reflected in the discussion of diagnostic methods, major respiratory tract pathogens, and respiratory tract syndromes. The novel approach is to include a variety of topics such as respiratory tract infections associated with foreign travel, miscellaneous agents of pneumonia and lower respiratory tract infections, and pulmonary infections in patients with cystic fibrosis.

The discussion of pneumonia due to the major respiratory tract pathogens is generally good. The quality of the radiographs is excellent. Some of the chapters, such as those on pulmonary infections in cystic fibrosis, cytomegalovirus pneumonia, legionellosis, and miscellaneous agents of pneumonia and lower respiratory tract infections, make the textbook a worthwhile purchase for the respirologist or infectious-diseases consultant with an interest in pneumonia.

There is, however, no discussion of general issues that challenge the physician who deals with patients with pneumonia: Are there criteria that I can use to decide whom to admit and whom to send home? What is the best empirical therapy for patients who can be treated on an ambulatory basis, especially if I am practicing in an area in which there is penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae? When do I switch to oral antibiotics? What are the discharge criteria for patients who are admitted with pneumonia? There are also some unavoidable gaps in the textbook, such as the absence of a discussion of the newer "respiratory tract quinolones," and some avoidable lapses, such as the lack of a chapter dealing with nursing home-acquired pneumonia.

Reviewed by Thomas Marrie, M.D.
Copyright © 1998 Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved. The New England Journal of Medicine is a registered trademark of the MMS.

Product Review
"This book will be a valuable addition to the reference section of any medical library, large or small. its target audience is physicians, it will also be useful to medical students and residents. It is a very useful work and highly recommended." E-Streams

"The quality of radiographs is excellenta worthwhile purchase for the respirologist or infectious-diseases consultant with an interest in pneumonia." Michael E. Ellis, New England Journal of Medicine

"Infectious Diseases of the Respiratory Tract mixes a traditional and a novel approach to this subject. The traditional approach is reflected in the discussion of diagnostic methods, major respiratory tract pathogens, and respiratory tract syndromes. The novel approach is to include a variety of topics such as respiratory tract infections associated with foreign travel, miscellaneous agents of pneumonia and lower respiratory tract infections, and pulmonary infections in patients with cystic fibrosis. The discussion of pneumonia due to the major respiratory tract pathogens is generally good. The quality of the radiographs is excellent. a worthwhile purchase for the respirologist or infectious-diseases consultant with an interest in pneumonia." Thomas Marrie, M.D., The New England Journal of Medicine

"Chapters are well referenced, often with over 200 citations each. The chapters regarding new diagnostic methods and tests are very current. The book has an international style that is enjoyable and useful. the writing is excellent." Robert L. Danner, MD; Respiratory Care

Reader Reviews
respiratory infectione. broncitis.pneumonia. any bacterial or virous infection related to respiratory system. Comment | | (Report this)