Septicaemia and Endocarditis

A text aiming to provide practical information on clinically relevant topics pertaining to septicaemia and endocarditis, such as the epidemiology, clinical and microbiological diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the diseases, and aspects affecting the management of patients.

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Septicaemia is an important problem in hospitals throughout the world and practitioners require access on up to date information about causative organisms and the management of this life-threatening infection. This work contains essays by some of the leading authorities in Britain and the USA, which should provide valuable information of practical use to clinicians. Also discussed is infective endocarditis, which is at least as prevalent as the pre-antibioticera. Several controversial areas of this disease are discussed jointly by a professor of cardiology and a microbiologist, who are both members of the Endocarditis Working Party of the British Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. The work as a whole aims to provide information on clinically relevant topics including the epidemiology, clinical and microbiological diagnosis and prevention of the infections, factors influencing the prompt choice of appropriate antibiotics, and other aspects affecting the management of patients with suspected septicaemia or infective endocarditis. It is intended for physicians, medical microbiologists, laboratory scientists and others involved in caring for patients with these infections.