Overview
The new 12th edition of Bailey & Scott's Diagnostic Microbiology solidifies its reputation as the classic text in the field of microbiology. This new edition features the same comprehensive, authoritative content — and adds new and updated material throughout. The team of authors includes three well-respected clinical microbiologists, all of whom have experience both in the classroom and the clinical laboratory.
• A respected author team consists of three well-respected clinical microbiologists, each of whom has experience both in the classroom and the clinical laboratory.
• Genera and Species to be Considered highlight all of the organisms to be discussed in each chapter, including the current name of the species as well as any previous names.
• Detailed hands-on procedures make the content more interesting and relevant by describing exactly what takes place in the micro lab.
• Convenient, easy-to-read tables summarize key information.
• A glossary of all of the terms is found at the back of the book for quick reference.
• Three NEW chapters:
• General Considerations and Applications of Information Provided in Bacterial Sections of Part III explains explains the criteria for organism inclusion and how it should be used.
• Bacterial Identification Flow Charts and Schemes: A Guide to Part III includes gram reaction, shape, arrangement, atmosphere preferred, oxidase and catalase reactions, among other decision points for various pathogens, creating a visual method of identifying and cross referencing organisms.
• Sentinel Laboratory Response to Bioterrorism
• A NEW section on clinical laboratory management
• More case studies help to develop critical thinking skills, with answers in an appendix.
• More photos of the major organisms have been included to help in identifying different organisms.
The book contains predominantly color illustrations, with some black-and-white illustrations.
Editorials
From The Critics
Reviewer: Valerie L. Ng, PhD MD(Alameda County Medical Center/Highland Hospital)Description: This is the 12th edition of a comprehensive textbook of clinical microbiology. The previous edition was published in 2002.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide both a teaching tool and reference for bench clinical microbiologists. These worthy objectives are well met (again) by the authors.
Audience: Intended for bench clinical microbiologists, students or practitioners, the book would also be useful for anyone interested in clinical microbiology practice, such as anatomical pathology or laboratory medicine residents, medical microbiology fellows, infectious disease fellows, medical students or any allied health professionals curious about how the clinical microbiology laboratory identifies infectious agents and determines susceptibility to therapeutic agents. The three authors are well known and highly respected in this field, and this edition is the third edition they have collaboratively revised.
Features: "Check Bailey & Scott" is a frequent answer to any question arising in the clinical microbiology laboratory. This book long has been recognized as the standard of excellence for clinical microbiology references, and this edition upholds its well deserved reputation. It contains most of what you could ever want to know about clinical microbiology from the laboratory perspective. This edition continues to provide all information necessary for daily responsibilities in a "full menu," high complexity clinical microbiology laboratory. New to this edition are more and updated case histories, expansion of information on molecular methods, updated information to reflect current taxonomy, expansion of information on automated bacterial identification systems, and a new section on diagnosis by organ system. The writing is concise, clear, and accessible. Students will be able to readily grasp basic concepts. Practitioners will quickly hone in on key esoteric information only appreciated by the experienced clinical microbiologist. I really liked the structure of the bacteriology chapters, which introduce each group by key laboratory tests (Gram stain, common biochemical reactions) to reinforce classic clinical microbiology diagnostic algorithms. There is liberal and effective use of color in tables, diagrams, and pictures of cultures or microscopic detail. Of note, the entire book, including the color pictures of culture plates and photomicrographs, is printed on relatively thin pages. This is not a criticism, it's just that I've not seen such excellent color reproduction on regular paper before. Finally, additional information for this edition is contained on the publisher's web portal. Some of the web-hosted material is restricted to educators (e.g., instructor's manual, 900 question test bank, laboratory manual, electronic image collection) and some is available to students (e.g., web links, content updates). Access requires registering and creating an account.
Assessment: This is, once again, a must-have book for any clinical microbiologist. It should go right next to the other "bibles" of clinical microbiology (Murray et al.'s Manual of Clinical Microbiology, 9th edition (ASM Press, 2007), MacFadden's Biochemical Tests for the Identification of Medical Bacteria, 3rd edition (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2000), etc.).
Charles E. Edmiston
This is the 10th edition of a text on the principlesand practices in laboratory diagnostic microbiology. The currenteditors have made significant changes to both the organization andformat of this standard text, improving its overall value as alaboratory resource. It is written as a practical guidebook inclinical microbiology and covers all aspects of this laboratoryscience, including basic laboratory practices, principles of microbialrecovery, disease-specific microbial recovery, identificationstrategies/schemas for both aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms, andmethods of susceptibility testing. There are also separate sectionscovering laboratory parasitology, mycology, mycobacteriology, andvirology. It is appropriate for any allied health student who iscontemplating spending time in the clinical microbiology laboratory. In addition, students of microbiology at both the undergraduate andgraduate level would benefit from acquiring this text for theirpersonal library. This book has always been viewed as an excellentteaching text and this current edition will further enhance its studentfriendly reputation. It is full of outstanding illustrations, charts,tables, color plates, and current reference citations. In addition, itis well organized and the index is extremely helpful in locatingspecific topics. The current editors have done an outstanding job inupdating a revered resource in the field of clinical microbiology. Thetext is extremely easy to read yet comprehensively discusses thetheories and practices central to the diagnostic microbiologylaboratory. The section on Central Issues in Clinical Microbiology isexcellent, addressing many of the key regulatory and managementproblemsoccurring in today's clinical laboratories. The editors havecarefully updated nomenclature changes that have occurred since thelast edition was published in 1994. This edition would be an excellentaddition to personal collections and should also be viewed as anoutstanding reference or teaching text for students in the alliedhealth sciences.4 Stars! from Doody