Until the mid-1970s, relatively few reference books about infective endocarditis were available. The paucity soon became a plethora! This is the most recent of the many recently published books that discuss this fascinating infectious disease that has immunologic consequences. It was written by a man who has been a distinguished member of the infectious disease community for many years, Louis Weinstein, and his colleague, John Brusch.

The book is comprehensive in outline, although perhaps no more so than some previously published texts. To the authors' credit, the book is extensively referenced; in fact, one of the chapters has more than 400 references. The illustrations are appropriate and of high quality. The many tables throughout the volume are helpful. For the clinician faced with a patient who has or is suspected of having infective endocarditis, time spent with this book, if it doesn't completely resolve the clinical dilemma, will identify appropriate clinical, epidemiologic, and laboratory references that may offer additional or complementary information.

This is not to say that the book is perfect; few are. For example, it is disappointing that the authors did not emphasize the several clinical and laboratory "criteria" for confirmation of a diagnosis of infective endocarditis that have been published in the past few years. A critical discussion of such criteria and how they can prove to be helpful or not helpful for the clinician would have added considerable value. Similarly, the discussion of endocarditis in children is incomplete. The chapter on prophylaxis would have been more useful for clinicians if it included a more in-depth discussion of the pros and cons of antibiotic prophylaxis with cardiovascular surgery, including cardiac transplantation. With so many immunocompromised patients and with relatively little information about the risks these patients have for endocarditis, some direction from the authors would have been a nice addition. As a final example, the chapter on experimental models, which provides some basic information, might have been more inclusive.

Deficiencies notwithstanding, this useful reference work deserves a place in the libraries of clinicians with patients in whom infective endocarditis has either been suspected or confirmed. The cost of the book is an attractive feature.