Cases in Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Now in its second edition, this bestselling text has been revised, updated, and enhanced to better meet the needs and demands of modern medical microbiology courses. The goal of this edition remains the same as that of its first edition: to challenge students to develop a working knowledge of the variety of microorganisms that cause infections in humans.

As a supplement to traditional medical microbiology textbooks, Cases has been designed to help students assimilate classroom information more readily and enthusiastically. By showing how facts and concepts in medical microbiology directly relate to patient care, this case-or problem-based text adds to the basic science curriculum and encourages more active learning by students. The cases in this second edition are all presented as unknowns and are accompanied by several questions to test student knowledge in four broad areas: 1) the organism's characteristics and laboratory diagnosis; 2) pathogenesis and clinical characteristics; 3) epidemiology; and 4) prevention, and in some cases, drug treatment and resistance.

Significantly modified, this second edition has 40 new cases in addition to the 30 cases, many extensively revised, from the first edition. The new cases represent either more typical clinical presentations of specific infectious diseases; changes in the pathogen, such as the development of antimicrobial resistance or an improved understanding of some aspect of the organism's virulence, epidemiology, or means of prevention; or organisms causing emerging or re-emerging infectious diseases that were either not recognized or poorly understood at the time of the publication of the first edition.

All case histories describedin this text are from actual patients. The organization of the book is also different, with the cases arranged by organ system rather than by organism. This approach will better prepare students for clinical problem solving by giving them a broader perspective on the variety of microbes that can attack specific organ systems.

Cases, Second Edition will help students learn how to develop a differential diagnosis, as well as begin to understand the language of medicine. In addition, this text presents a challenging and enjoyable way to study medical microbiology and infectious diseases and will be useful in reviewing for Part I of the National Board of Medical Examiners exam. It also serves as a good reference during infectious disease rotations.