Manual of Clinical Microbiology

Abstract

In his introduction, Balows, editor-in-chief of the<i>Manual of Clinical Microbiology</i>, fifth edition, states that this book could be a reference book, a textbook, or a laboratory manual. I think it qualifies for all three. The text contains an unprecedented amount of information, which has been updated and expanded from the 1985 fourth edition. The contributing authors consist of experts in the respective fields, many of whom developed by their own research the areas they authored. The first of ten sections describes general aspects such as specimen collection, quality assurance, and laboratory safety. The chapter on the assessment of new technology is mostly devoted to the determination of the predictive value of tests, defining their quality and their role for the care of patients. This chapter is invaluable for the physician who must select the most appropriate test for diagnosing illness or screening for infection. Section two reviews in detail