Contents:

Introduction: A contemporary approach to microbiology SECTION 1 THE ADVERSARIES - MICROBES 1. Microbes as parasites 2. The bacteria 3. The viruses 4. The fungi 5. The protozoa 6. The helminths and arthropods 7. Prions 8. The host-parasite relationship SECTION 2 THE ADVERSARIES - HOST DISEASES 9. The innate defenses of the body 10. Adaptive responses provide a 'quantum leap' in effective defense 11. The cellular basis of adaptive immune responses SECTION 3 THE CONFLICTS 12. Background to the infectious diseases 13. Entry, exit and transmission 14. Immune defenses in action 15. Spread and replication 16. Parasite survival strategies and persistent infections 17. Pathologic consequences of infection SECTION 4 CLINICAL MANIFESTATION AND DIAGNOSIS OF INFECTIONS BY BODY SYSTEM 18. Upper respiratory tract infections 19. Lower respiratory tract infections 20. Urinary tract infections 21. Sexually transmitted infections 22. Gastrointestinal tract infections 23. Obstetric and perinatal infections 24. Central nervous system infections 25. Infections of the eye 26. Infections of the skin, soft tissue, muscle and associated systems 27. Vector-borne infections 28. Multisystem zoonoses 29. Fever of unknown origin 30. Infections in the compromised host SECTION 5 - DIAGNOSIS AND CONTROL 31. Diagnosis of infection and assessment of host defense mechanisms 32. Epidemiology and control of infectious diseases 33. Attacking the enemy: antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy 34. Protecting the host: vaccination 35. Passive and non-specific immunotherapy 36. Hospital infection, sterilization and disinfection