Journal of Hospital Infection (2007) 65, 186

www.elsevierhealth.com/journals/jhin

BOOK REVIEW

The Pocket Guide to Fungal Infection,2nd edition

M. Richardson, E. Johnson, Blackwell, 2006, ISBN1405122188, £24.95, 192 pages.

The first edition of this book, written by twointernationally known mycologists, proved a wel-come addition to the generalist’s library. In thissecond edition, the authors have now updated andextended the book and this process has largelybeen successful.

This is a genuinely pocket-sized volume that isshort (less than 200 pages) and well illustratedwith clinical, microscopic and plate culture pho-tographs. Sections are colour coded, thus makingnavigation straightforward, and each has the sameformat with pithy, mostly bullet-pointed, text.

The approach is that of an AeZ of causativeagents within clinical subdivisions, such as mucosaland cutaneous infections, and systemic mycoses.

The new sections, such as that on molecularmethods, could be criticized for failing to cover thesubject adequately, but, in fact, they providea ‘taster’ for the reader who can then choose tofollow up on the subject if interested. However,the bibliography could be more comprehensive,particularly in faster moving areas such as molec-ular methodology. A short list of current interna-tional guidelines on management of specificconditions would be a welcome addition, althoughone of the authors has produced a useful book ofguidelines, which is cited.

One can understand why Richardson and John-son have avoided an in-depth discussion of anti-fungal drugs in this short guide, but a section onthe main drugs would be helpful to the uninitiated.

doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2006.09.014

The issues of azole therapy, particularly druginteractions, are of frequent concern to thosetreating fungal infection and should at least bementioned.

Some of the management recommendationscould also be challenged. For example, mostdoctors today would attempt to manage raisedintracranial pressure in cryptococcal meningitiswith repeat lumbar punctures. However, theauthors have tried to remain uncontroversial,sticking to licensed indications for the mostpart. Critics should bear in mind that many ofthe treatment recommendations in the mycologyliterature are based on opinion rather thanrobust evidence.

Sadly, change is inevitable, even in the field ofmycology, and this book, along with many others,is already showing some signs of age. For example,the activities of the National Committee forClinical and Laboratory Standards have now beensubsumed under the auspices of the Clinical andLaboratory Standards Institute. In addition, thetaxonomy of Cryptococcus neoformans haschanged, with the advent of C. neoformans var.grubii.

However, most of these criticisms are minorgripes and the authors are to be congratulated onimproving an already worthwhile text. This book isideal for the non-expert and it more than fulfils therole for which it was designed.

C. KibblerRoyal Free Hospital, London, UK

E-mail address: christopher.kibbler@royalfree.nhs.uk

Available online 14 December 2006