Lippincott Illustrated Reviews Microbiology
Deepika Verma
Abstract
FigureThe South Asian Edition of Lippincott Illustrated Reviews Microbiology is a worth reading book and seems to well framed for undergraduate and postgraduate medical students as well as the medical microbiologists and Infection control physicians are also potential readers. The Immunology section has been made quite interesting by commencing each chapter by a legendary quote and is well written, nicely organized with self-explanatory diagrams. Some figures like that on Immune surveillance [Figure 12.12], diversity of receptors of innate and adaptive immune system [Figure 6.4] and immune defense mechanisms [Figure 6.6] are very interesting. Multiple choice questions with explanation also seems to be unique of this book. Unit VI dedicated to major viral diseases seems to contain updated information on retroviruses, Hepatitis virus, and Herpes virus. Emerging viral infections like Dengue, Coronaviruses are a must update in the coming editions. Certain sections in Unit III, like chapters on Salmonella typhi and on Mycobaterium tuberculosis could have been more elaborate, emphasizing their pathogenesis and new diagnostic modalities. Health care associated infections and infection control practices should have been more elaborate. In section V, certain tropical protozoal and helminthic diseases and in sections of Mycology, cutaneous and subcutaneous mycosis have been well written but they need to be supplemented with text from other reference textbooks. Overall, this book covers all the broad scopes of medical microbiology. Keeping aside some of the above limitations, the book is well knit in a simplified language making it student friendly.