Tuberculosis: A Clinical Handbook

From The Critics

Reviewer: John A. Robinson, MD(Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine)
Description: This is another entrant in the predicted spate of books that is occurring in the wake of the perceived tuberculosis crisis (multiple inner-city outbreaks might describe the problem better). Strikingly, more than 90% of its authors are apparently from the same medical center. This concentration of authors from one urban site with very high HIV and TB infection rates could distort perspective and should be viewed as a drawback.
Purpose: The purpose, as stated by the publisher, is to be a very detailed and organized primer on diagnosis and therapy of tuberculosis. The reader will miss this stated purpose unless the back cover is read.
Audience: It appears that this book was written as a manual for public health officials, epidemiologists, medical students, and even graduate students in microbiology. It will not be very helpful for medical residents, infectious disease fellows and subspecialists, but it may be a quick information source for generalists.
Features: It is multiauthored, is a bit over-laden with historical quotes, and has no unique features.
Assessment: It is difficult to assess the value of this book because the targeted audience really isn't well defined. Like many other multiauthored books, some chapters are much better than others. Chapter 5 stands out as an excellent clinical overview of the multifaceted presentation of this disease. Chapters 7 and 11 are quick reliable sources for microbiology and TB drugs. Chapter 10, "The Ethical and Legal Aspects of Tuberculosis Control," will interest some readers. However, many will find the analysis of "coercive" societal policies relevant to the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis versus those of HIV/AIDS not very persuasive; neither camp, coercive or individual freedom, will be mollified. There is a striking absence of any in-depth discussion of the immunology of mycobacterial infection and, pari passu, no discussion of the use of cytokines, especially gamma interferon, for the treatment of resistant tuberculosis. These would have been interesting topics to pursue in a modern tuberculosis clinical manual.

John A. Robinson

This is another entrant in the predicted spate of books that is occurring in the wake of the perceived tuberculosis crisis (multiple inner-city outbreaks might describe the problem better). Strikingly, more than 90% of its authors are apparently from the same medical center. This concentration of authors from one urban site with very high HIV and TB infection rates could distort perspective and should be viewed as a drawback. The purpose, as stated by the publisher, is to be a very detailed and organized primer on diagnosis and therapy of tuberculosis. The reader will miss this stated purpose unless the back cover is read. It appears that this book was written as a manual for public health officials, epidemiologists, medical students, and even graduate students in microbiology. It will not be very helpful for medical residents, infectious disease fellows and subspecialists, but it may be a quick information source for generalists. It is multiauthored, is a bit over-laden with historical quotes, and has no unique features. It is difficult to assess the value of this book because the targeted audience really isn't well defined. Like many other multiauthored books, some chapters are much better than others. Chapter 5 stands out as an excellent clinical overview of the multifaceted presentation of this disease. Chapters 7 and 11 are quick reliable sources for microbiology and TB drugs. Chapter 10, ""The Ethical and Legal Aspects of Tuberculosis Control,"" will interest some readers. However, many will find the analysis of ""coercive"" societal policies relevant to the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis versus those of HIV/AIDS not very persuasive; neither camp, coercive orindividual freedom, will be mollified. There is a striking absence of any in-depth discussion of the immunology of mycobacterial infection and, pari passu, no discussion of the use of cytokines, especially gamma interferon, for the treatment of resistant tuberculosis. These would have been interesting topics to pursue in a modern tuberculosis clinical manual.

Booknews

An account of the disease, its manifestations, and prevention in children, adults, and HIV-infected patients, for general practitioners and internists. Covers epidemiology, microbiology, and the historical perspective, and discusses skin testing, infection control, and ethical and legal aspects. Includes material on both tuberculous and nontuberculous mycobacteria, alternative nonclassical therapies, and recent techniques for diagnosing and assessing bacterial sensitivity to possible anti-TB medication. Includes b&w photos. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

2 Stars from Doody