Book Description

A comprehensive guide to the rational and safe prescribing of antimicrobials in the treatment and prevention of bacterial infections. Now in its second revised edition. the book gives particular attention to the management of infections commonly found in Eastern Mediterranean countries. Addressed to physicians, the guide responds to the urgent need to prevent the misuse of antibiotics, protect against the emergence of resistant bacterial strains and reduce the waste of resources spent on useless treatments. The manual has five chapters. The first explains the general principles of safe and effective antimicrobial therapy, emphasizing the many factors that need to be considered when selecting drugs, doses and modes of administration. The second chapter, which constitutes the core of the manual, provides precise prescribing guidelines for the management of 77 bacterial infections. For each infection, information includes relevant diagnostic advice, the most likely causative organisms listed in the order of frequency, the first-choice drug or combination, followed by alternatives and advice on dosage, mode of administration and duration of therapy. The third chapter outlines essential information about the properties, advantages and limitations of topical preparations for use as disinfectants, antiseptics, cleaning agents and antibiotics. Chemoprophylaxis is covered in the fourth chapter, which describes indications for chemoprophylaxis to prevent wound infection and sepsis in surgery, to prevent selected infections and to prevent bacterial endocarditis. The concluding chapter sets out dosage ranges for 27 commonly used antimicrobials.