Medical Microbiology Testing in Primary Care J. Keith Struthers, Michael J. Weinbren, Christopher Taggert, and Kjell J. Wiberg; London, UK: Manson Publishing Ltd, 2012. 256 pp. $59.99 ( paperback).
Nowadays, there are reams of microbiology textbooks available, but convenient guidelines for primary care physicians and nurses are still rare. A book that would fill this gap is Medical Microbiology Testing in Primary Care. As the title emphasizes, this is not a classical textbook on clinical microbiology and infectious diseases. Nor does it handle the topics of bacterial culture conditions or specificities of resistance testing. It is a practical guide primarily for general practitioners but also for medical microbiology staff and others working in that field. Its purpose is simply the improvement of patient care. The focus is clearly on
preanalytic procedures: When is it really indicated to collect a microbiological specimen regarding patient conditions and patient history? How to take the sample and how to carry and store it? A second priority is on the interpretation of laboratory reports, especially how to anticipate the best anti-infective therapy from the limited number of tested substances given in the laboratory report. The book is divided into 11 chapters. It begins with a short introduction on medical microbiology and epidemiology, as well as the most important pathogens and antibiotics. The authors describe in each chapter the procedure for handling a particular kind of sample. Almost the entire spectrum of microbiological materials in primary care is covered, ranging from urine and genital specimens, to chronic leg ulcer swabs, fungal scrapings, and eye, respiratory tract, and fecal specimens, to serum tests. For any type of sample, a clearly structured flowchart illustrates the sequential steps from specimen collection to the laboratory report. Numerous representative macro- and microscopic photographs give practical impressions of routine work. Chapters on infections in pregnancy and basic antibiotic treatment guidelines complete the book. At the beginning of each chapter and in the appendix, a standard route and the most significant specific organisms and conditions are summarized in concise info-boxes and “Quick Action Guides.” In particular, the key points of unnecessary and incorrect specimen collection as well as inappropriate transport are stressed. The reader is thoroughly alerted to the topic of multiresistant germs. At the end of the book, 20 review cases are listed, in which the
reader can check his or her knowledge. The most important facts for each case are given on the corresponding back page. Overall, Medical Microbiology Testing in Primary Care provides a good understanding of the relevant principles in this field, although it is sometimes difficult to define the boundaries between primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary care. It focuses on the key areas outside the laboratory or more precisely the “contact points” between outpatient care and laboratory microbiology. The Quick Action Guides of each chapter consistently present a clear path from deciding to take a specimen to interpretation of the lab report and consideration of an antibiotic regimen. Thus, the book can be recommended for general practitioners, nurses, and medical microbiologists who want to improve their cooperation with respect to better patient care without getting lost in the mass of microbiologic expert knowledge.
Notes Potential conflicts of interest. The author certifies no potential conflicts of interest. The author has submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Conflicts that the editors consider relevant to the content of the manuscript have been disclosed.
Andreas Erich Zautner University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany
Clinical Infectious Diseases 2013;56(3):469 © The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.
[email protected]. DOI: 10.1093/cid/cis875
BOOK REVIEW
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