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Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology, Vol. 28, No. 2, April-June, 2010, pp. 188 Book Review Essentials of Microbiology by Anuradha De. National Series Lt. Gen. D. Raghunath Principal Executive, Sir Dorabji Tata Centre for Research in Tropical Diseases, Innovation Centre, Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bangalore - 560012 Correspondence Address: Principal Executive, Sir Dorabji Tata Centre for Research in Tropical Diseases, Innovation Centre, Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bangalore - 560012, India Email: sdtc265iisc@vsnl.net Code Number: mb10059 Published by The National Book Depot, Parel, Mumbai ISBN 81-87540-63-X 1st Edition 2006. Pages: 277 Price: Rs. 325.00 This book has been brought to review 3½ years after publication. It has attempted to cover a vast canvas in the field of infectious diseases. The work covers the diagnostic aspects and has information on therapy. The prevailing style throughout the book is designed towards it being an aide memoir for the examination going candidate. As pointed in the foreword it caters to both the graduate as well as the post-graduate student, who desire a quick revision. The staccato style is not conducive to an in-depth understanding of the subject. Chapter 4 and 5 cover aspects of bacterial pathogenesis and laboratory identification in a flow chart format. Substantial information is packed into these chapters. However, there are some lacunae e.g. the pathogenesis of leprosy has been dealt with perfunctorily etc. The flow diagrams, themselves could do with careful revision. Here again the flow diagram for Shigella characterization (Flow chart III, page 46) has a mistake. Likewise, the book is full of typographic and other mistakes. The reviewer attempted to catalogue them but abandoned the effort as the list became too long. Another major error has been in the use of superscripts e.g., 105 etc have often been written in running format as e.g. 105 changing the meanings. The rules of binominal designations have not been followed at all times. Numerous acronyms have been used that have not been adequately expanded. In fact, a comprehensive glossary would be useful addition. The book has a lot of information. It goes beyond its title of 'Essentials' as a fair amount of advanced material is included. It rambles across all the ramifications of medical microbiology emphasizing on some subjects e.g. Methicillin resistant S. aureus , Enteric fever, Gastrointestinal infections etc apparently of importance to exam going students. While bench methods have not found a place in the book page 61 has two tables which are useful only on the bench. At the same time there is some repetition of material e.g., identification of anaerobes (flow charts VII A+B, pp 52-53) and chapter 20 where Bacteroides have been emphasized at the expense of gram positive anaerobes. The colour plates are quite good except for some errors e.g. the picture of a mouse has been labeled as a rabbit (page III), the illustration of the Penicillium species (page IV) is that of an Aspergillus ! In conclusion, the book has evidence of considerable effort having been put in by the author. However, the product has serious production flaws that detract from its value. The reviewer cannot recommend the book in its present format to any serious student of Medical Microbiology. In any case a revision is due and the opportunity can be seized to revise, reformat and correct the material to produce a comprehensive text. Production quality may also be attended to at that time. With a little more effort a really worthwhile book would result. It would be an achievement for a single author. Copyright 2010 - Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology |
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