A compelling analysis of nearly seven decades of antibiotic reform, framing our current efforts to stave off a post-antibiotic era. Winner of the CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title of the Choice ACRL In The Antibiotic Era, physician-historian Scott H. Podolsky narrates the far-reaching history of antibiotics, focusing particularly on reform efforts that attempted to fundamentally change how antibiotics are developed and prescribed. This sweeping chronicle reveals the struggles faced by crusading reformers from the 1940s onward as they advocated for a rational therapeutics at the crowded intersection of bugs and drugs, patients and doctors, industry and medical academia, and government and the media. During the post–World War II “wonder drug” revolution, antibiotics were viewed as a panacea for mastering infectious disease. But from the beginning, critics raised concerns about irrational usage and overprescription. The first generation of antibiotic reformers focused on regulating the drug industry. The reforms they set in motion included the adoption of controlled clinical trials as the ultimate arbiters of therapeutic efficacy, the passage of the Kefauver-Harris amendments mandating proof of drug efficacy via well-controlled studies, and the empowering of the Food and Drug Administration to remove inefficacious drugs from the market. Despite such victories, no entity was empowered to rein in physicians who inappropriately prescribed, or overly prescribed, approved drugs. Now, in an era of emerging bugs and receding drugs, discussions of antibiotic resistance focus on the need to develop novel antibiotics and the need for more appropriate prescription practices in the face of pharmaceutical marketing, pressure from patients, and the structural constraints that impede rational delivery of antibiotics worldwide. Concerns about the enduring utility of antibiotics—indeed, about a post-antibiotic era—are widespread, as evidenced by reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, academia, and popular media alike. Only by understanding the historical forces that have shaped our current situation, Podolsky argues, can we properly understand and frame our choices moving forward.

In this monograph, journalist Rinke van den Brink takes a closer look at the limitations and risks of today’s antibiotic use. Though all developed societies have grown accustomed to successfully treating bacterial infections with these wonder drugs, the author focuses on the increasing number of antibiotic-resistant infections. By examining recent mass outbreaks, readers will gain a better understanding of the global impact of antimicrobial resistance – one of the most serious public health threats today. Following this somewhat disquieting review of the status quo, interviews with a number of specialists provide an outlook on possible solutions. In a world that is more connected than ever, partnerships between different healthcare systems are becoming all the more important. Rinke van den Brink uses the example of a border-spanning collaboration between the Netherlands and Germany to demonstrate how effective lines of communication can be established. The book offers a wealth of useful background information for healthcare personnel. Not only does it share insights into the functional microbe-antibiotic relationship; it also discusses how clinics can effectively address outbreaks, helping readers to learn from past experiences and develop effective new strategies.

Gain a full understanding of clinical infectious diseases in just thirty days A Doody's Core Title for 2011! No other resource makes clinical infectious diseases more manageable and easy to master than Infectious Diseases: A Clinical Short Course. This one-of-a-kind self-instruction tool is organized by system/region as opposed to pathogens -- simulating how common pathogens and disorders would be encountered in rounds or in practice. For this reason, this remarkable resource is unsurpassed for learning how to associate pathogens with their corresponding impact on actual patients. Features: A true, concise “short course” format that can be read and understood in the span of a 30-day infectious disease rotation Numerous case examples -- appropriate for PBL and integrated curricula -- to further highlight clinical application of the content Key points summaries and Guiding Questions that drive home core concepts and aid comprehension 24 eye-catching color plates that depict major pathogens and reinforce the impact of clinical infection NEW! An even more concise and streamlined format designed to help you learn the most in the least amount of time

LEARN THE PRINCIPLES OF CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN JUST THIRTY DAYS Infectious Diseases: A Clinical Short COURSE is a concise overview of this important field designed to help the busy physician, medical student, nurse practitioner, and physician assistant to understand, diagnose, and treat common infectious diseases. This unique self-instruction book is organized by system/region as opposed to pathogens-simulating how common pathogens and disorders would be encountered in rounds or in practice. By indicating the number of days that should be allotted to the study of each chapter, the au.

This book is about mobile genes—the transfer of DNA between unrelated cells. It discusses the machinery of gene transfer and its wide-ranging biological and health consequences. Mobile DNA makes possible the development of antibiotic resistance in microbes, the conversion of harmless to pathogenic bacteria, and the triggering of cancerous growth in cells. It also contributes to human evolution. This well-illustrated volume contains an up-to-date account of a topic now seen as increasingly important, and will be invaluable for both working scientists and as a textbook for advanced courses.

With this self-teaching reference residents learn a disease per day. Covers epidemiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical presentations, diagnostic approaches, and treatment of adult human infections. Includes lucid accounts of each syndrome, clinical vignettes to illustrate common and complicated clinical points, key pathogenic characteristics of organisms, and useful figures and radiographs. An innovative bridge between general medicine textbooks and encyclopedic presentations. Perfect for the 30 day infectious disease clerkship

Addresses many of the common questions and concerns parents have about the overuse of antibiotics.