Maneater and Other True Stories of a Life in Infectious Diseases.

Nagami, M.D. 2001. Read by Donna Rawlins. Abridged. 2 tapes, 3 hrs. Audio Renaissance. 1-55927-678-9. $17.95. Cardboard and plastic; content notes. SA

Rawlins, who reads in a gentle, animated voice, lets Nagami tell of her work as a specialist in infectious diseases for an HMO, all the while leading the ordinary life of a mother who picks up her kids at school and tucks them into bed at night. She began her work shortly before patients, almost all male at first, turned up with the syndrome of cancers and pneumonia that came to be called AIDS, and recounts the hair-raising experience of inadvertently puncturing her skin with an infected implement. She often did careful detective work in concert with colleagues and other specialists to determine if patients had become infected with particular worms or other parasites. She learned to identify and treat flesh-eating bacteria.

During her practice, Nagami witnessed the conquest of diseases that had routinely killed people and saw highly effective drugs become useless as the bugs evolved defenses. She talks about the process of becoming a doctor and clearly respects male and female medical workers alike. Nagami shares her personal philosophy; readers will appreciate her sense of connectedness with patients who usually recovered but sometimes died. Will be of interest to young people contemplating medicine as a career and the legion of readers who enjoy medical topics. Smooth abridgment. Edna M. Boardman, Minot, ND