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Understanding Infectious Diseases
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Paul D. Ellner and Harold C. Neu. 343 pages. St. Louis, Missouri: Mosby-Year Book; 1992. $32.95.
Infections are the most common, treatable, and preventable disorders currently confronting humankind. Therefore, it is fitting that clinicians—however far removed from the role of primary caregiver—maintain more than a superficial knowledge of infectious diseases.
For 26 years, Ellner and Neu have entertained and inspired students at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University with a series of lectures on infectious diseases. Their book is a collection of those lectures and is offered as an introduction "for students. who do not have time to consult encyclopedic tomes until later in their careers." The book is worth consideration because its authors are bonafide experts in the discipline and because it more than accomplishes its stated objective.
Nevertheless, one might be inclined to dismiss the work because it does not cover its subject in depth. For example, no chapters are devoted to immunizations, infection control, or parasites. The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is addressed in a mere 4 pages—grudgingly little attention for the most important infection of this generation and all the more surprising because the book originates from the epicenter of this country's AIDS epidemic. The book can also be criticized because its photographs are occasionally of poor quality and do not always facilitate comprehension. The material is unreferenced; this is a problem because few concepts germane to the discipline enjoy a consensus among experts. Finally, the incomplete index makes it difficult at times to locate particular items of interest.
Despite these shortcomings, the book provides an interesting, easy-to-read, informative introduction to infectious diseases. It is organized by organ system (rather than by class of microorganisms); most of its chapters are introduced by brief but relevant case summaries; and, perhaps most importantly, the great skill and obvious enthusiasm with which information is presented should stimulate students to do additional reading. All of these features make this book ideal for medical students and medical schools committed to a curriculum in which case-based, seminar teaching is used.
It is fitting that the book is paperback; it is not meant to be saved. Rather, it is best read quickly by the sophomore student and then given to a friend. The student should recall, however, that it is a collection of lecture notes and, like Cliff's Notes on the plays of Shakespeare, must be used as an introduction to the definitive work rather than as a substitute for it.
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