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BOOK REVIEWS
Gary P. Wormser, Section Editor

Antibiotics Basics For Clinicians: Choosing the Right Antibacterial Agent
Alan R. Hauser Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007 320 pp., illustrated. $32.95

The book Antibiotic Basics For Clinicians: Choosing the Right Antibacterial Agent is designed to accomplish the daunting task of creating a basic review on a complicated, multifaceted topic. The book is divided into 4 sections: Bacterial Basics, Antibacterial Agents, Definitive Therapy, and Empirical Therapy. Each chapter has several review questions, with answers provided in the back of the text. In addition, 12 clinical cases are provided, as are 50 overall review questions, both with discussion and answers. There are also numerous dosage tables provided. The author’s intention is that the book will serve as a guide to antibacterials for medical students, residents, and practicing physicians and that it will provide a bridge between didactic knowledge acquired during the first 2 years of medical school and the entrenched prescribing habits acquired by clinicians. The author states that a busy student or physician can read the book in 1–2 weeks. The author has accomplished his goals, because this book is an excellent primer on antibacterials and provides information in an abbreviated, nonlofty manner. The chapters are written in a way that “skimming of sections” to get to the important information is not required; the
Clinical Infectious Diseases 2008; 46:485–7 2008 by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permission to reuse, please contact journalpermissions@press.uchicago.edu. 1058-4838/2008/4603-0033$15.00 DOI: 10.1086/525537

authors pares the information down to the essentials. The book also adds an extra layer of knowledge usually acquired between course work and seasoned clinical experience. In the area of infectious diseases, students and residents are often flummoxed by having to choose among different...