Emerging infectious diseases: trends and issues.F.R. Lashley and J.D. Durham, editors Springer Publishing Company, New York, New York, 2002, ISBN ISBN abbr. International Standard Book Number ISBN International Standard Book Number ISBN n abbr (= International Standard Book Number) → ISBN m : 0-8261-1474-1, Pages: 483, Price: $58.95 Preparing a text about emerging and reemerging infections sounds like a contradiction in terms Noun 1. contradiction in terms - (logic) a statement that is necessarily false; "the statement `he is brave and he is not brave' is a contradiction" contradiction logic - the branch of philosophy that analyzes inference since by the time a book is published, "new" infections may have come and gone. But Lashley and Durham have successfully walked the thin line between being dated on the one hand and providing timely, relevant data on the other. Several chapters place emerging infections and related problems such as microbial microbial pertaining to or emanating from a microbe. microbial digestion the breakdown of organic material, especially feedstuffs, by microbial organisms. resistance in historical, cultural, and environmental context, which is relevant across diseases and time. The case study approach used for 17 specific diseases (e.g. cholera, cryptosporidiosis Cryptosporidiosis Definition Cryptosporidiosis refers to infection by the sporeforming protozoan known as Cryptosporidia. Protozoa are a group of parasites that infect the human intestine, and include the better known Giardia. , malaria, prions, drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, West Nile virus West Nile virus, microorganism and the infection resulting from it, which typically produces no symptoms or a flulike condition. The virus is a flavivirus and is related to a number of viruses that cause encephalitis. ) makes for an excellent vehicle for learning and fascinating reading. The book has five chapters on special issues--the role of infections in some cancers and chronic diseases, travel, immunocompromised immunocompromised /im·mu·no·com·pro·mised/ (-kom´pro-mizd) having the immune response attenuated by administration of immunosuppressive drugs, by irradiation, by malnutrition, or by certain disease processes (e.g., cancer). persons, bioterrorism, behavioral and cultural as aspects of transmission and infection--which cut across disease categories, as well as a future-looking summary. The book has four appendices for quick reference: emerging infections by organism and mode of transmission. prevention strategies, and a thorough list of resources. This book can serve as a valuable resource for epidemiologists, graduate students, and clinicians who need an overview reference text. Elaine Larson * * Columbia University, New York, New York, USA Address for correspondence: Elaine Larson. Columbia University School of Nursing, 630 W. 168th St., New York, NY 10032, USA: fax: 212-305-0722: email: ell23@columbia.edu |
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