The gratifying response to Clinical Infectious Disease has prompted this second edition. As with the first edition, our goal remains a complete and user-friendly guide to the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases.

The book is divided into 10 sections. First, Clinical syndromes, both general and by organ system, provides a traditional anatomic orientation, although within this section additional chapters are devoted to particularly challenging entities that are often difficult to research, such as infectious thyroiditis, deep neck infection, periocular infection, lymphadenopathy, mediastinitis, pacemaker infection, sexually transmitted enteric infection, bursitis, polyarthritis, psoas abscess, splenic abscess, spinal epidural abscess, cerebrospinal shunt infection, myelitis and peripheral neuropathy, and prion disease.

The second section, The susceptible host, includes individual chapters on infection in various immunocompromised states, including diabetes, transplantation, neutropenia, dialysis, pregnancy, and asplenia. Subsequent entire sections are devoted to HIV, nosocomial infection, surgery and trauma, prophylaxis, travel and recreation, and bioterrorism.

Organism-specific chapters follow, with individual chapters for specific bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and other pathogens. Finally, a major section on antimicrobial therapy includes chapters on principles of antibiotic therapy, antifungal therapy, antiviral therapy, and hypersensitivity to antibiotics. A final chapter lists antimicrobial agents in tabular form, providing a convenient reference for dosage, side effects, cost, pregnancy class, effect of food, and dose adjustment for renal dysfunction. All chapters include suggested readings.

For this new edition every chapter has been updated, and four new chapters have been added: Tungiasis and bedbugs (in Skin and lymph nodes), Biologics (in Compromised host), Anti-bacterial agents (in Antimicrobial therapy), and Probiotics (in Antimicrobial therapy).