Clinical cases in infectious diseases: a public health approach. Sanjaya Senanayake. Sydney: McGraw-Hill, 2007 (x + 398 pp). ISBN 978 0 07 471662 5.

In the preface to this text, Sanjaya Senanayake quotes the introductory voiceover to the television series “Law and Order” about the connecting roles of the police and district attorneys in criminal law. This analogy is particularly apt for the practice of infectious diseases, and this book, by an infectious diseases physician with experience in public health, attempts to bridge the divide between clinicians and public health practitioners.

Clinical cases in infectious diseases provides a useful insight into 22 examples of infectious diseases that encompass a diverse range of epidemiological and clinical features. They are set out almost as a TV script, interspersed with referenced facts about each disease. At first I found this style a little irritating, particularly as the doctors in the scenarios seem to inhabit a parallel universe where they diagnose botulism and Bairnsdale ulcer within the first page. However, with the more realistic and common scenarios, the style works well to enliven what might otherwise be a dry subject.

Some of the diseases included are rare in Australia, whereas others, such as influenza and tuberculosis, are common. A strength of the author’s approach is his focus on answering the practical questions — specific tests and treatments, the period of infectivity, isolation measures and responses. As such, this easily read book succeeds as an introductory text for medical students and junior doctors, public health staff and laboratory microbiologists.

It is necessarily difficult for a book of this nature to be complete, and it does not pretend to be a textbook of infectious diseases. However, notable omissions are sexually transmitted infections, particularly HIV. Other more controversial issues could also be considered, such as the ethical implications of quarantine of infectious patients or dealing with reckless conduct. Yet this should not detract from what is an entertaining and informative read for junior staff interested in the interface between clinical practice and public health practice.