It has grown with each edition, in page numbers, in weight, in numbers of contributors, diseases and pathogens described, and in complexity, with online access and search capabilities.
More than most other therapeutic areas, the science of ID has grown in the past decades, thanks to advances in genetics, diagnostics and immunology. The discovery of so many new pathogens in recent years has made the field challenging and exciting, requiring constant updates in knowledge and revision of prior assumptions.
So, after only a 4-year hiatus, the ‘new Mandell’ was released on Sept 11, 2014.
I assume it will take a good long time for even the most dedicated reviewer to thoroughly check its 324 chapters. Once done, the verdict will certainly be as ecstatic in the past: an indispensable tome for the ID specialist, a ‘must-have’ for medical libraries, to be used as the ultimate reference text for all things infectious diseases.
We should all be grateful to the authors and publishing team for all their work and dedication to the project. Putting it all together must have been a truly Herculean effort.
While we want to give praise where it is due, a few thoughts can be shared already now.
First, one wonders whether the book format is still justified in this age of rapid-fire changes in knowledge. In the electronic world we live in, a regularly updated cloud-based “living document’ may be easier to maintain and keep fresh. For instance, the stream of new data in the HCV area is impossible to capture in a printed book which sees revisions only every 4-5 years. The publisher (Elsevier) has recognized this shortcoming already some time ago and will probably add electronic updates to the on-line version on a regular basis, however, the hard-cover book is what it is.
A second more provocative thought is about the roster of authors. Quite frankly, this selection seems a bit ‘cliquish’: so many “doyens” of infectious diseases who were involved in the last 5 editions (or more) are still writing their favorite chapters and are only slowly relinquishing control to some hand-picked disciples. This comes at the expense of fresh approaches and significant re-writes.
Third point: The authorship is almost exclusively from the US. Why not engage a more international group of contributors? There are some notable exceptions, of course, mainly from the English-speaking world. Nonetheless, as it stands, this book reflects largely “US principles and practice”. Maybe one of the next editions could take a more multi-national and pluralistic approach to authorship.
If you are looking for an authoritative textbook, written by the “Who is who” in infectious diseases, this incarnation of Mandell’s will not disappoint.
I will review some of the chapters on this blog and report my impressions. In the meantime: A bientot ! Arrivederci ! Hasta la vista ! Namaste ! Maa salama !
