Antibiotic anniversary

This edition of Australia's Therapeutic guidelines — Antibiotic marks 25 years of continuous publication for the Therapeutic guidelines series and this volume has certainly matured over time — now it really can call itself a book! Not only has it grown from 31 to 406 pages, it has also developed into a more considered and better quality text. Thankfully it is still not a Cochrane review — I shudder to think of its size if that had happened — but it contains clearly enunciated and authoritative guidelines on the management of a broad range of infections.

Cardiovascular, gastroenterology and respiratory physician groups have collaborated in writing the relevant chapters, and endorsements have been obtained from infectious diseases, HIV medicine, dental, nursing, sexual health and general practitioner societies, the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, the National Prescribing Service and several state and territory health departments.

There are major changes in the sections on bone and joint, genital, upper and lower respiratory tract infections, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and biological warfare. Community acquired pneumonia has been dealt with in a more methodical and sensible way than in the book’s widely quoted North American and European counterparts.

The section outlining the principles of antimicrobial use should be compulsory reading for all students and doctors — with a refresher course every 3 years! The appendices contain an encyclopedia of valuable information on drug toxicity and interactions, doses for children, pregnant women and those with renal impairment, and on how to monitor drug levels, as well as much more.

I was disappointed to find only a short, noncommittal section on prosthetic joint infections. A recommendation to refer such patients to an infectious diseases physician would be wise. Some of the print has become small, although it has not achieved anything close to the eye-straining properties of the Sanford guide to antimicrobial therapy. Very few of the chapters contain further reading suggestions.

All these criticisms are minor — this is a great book!

It is traditional to say that a book should be on everyone's shelf, but I would strongly recommend keeping this one in a more secure place, otherwise it may disappear!

Joseph G McCormackDirector of Infectious Diseases Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Brisbane, QLD