Secret Life of Germs, the: Obversations & Lessons from a Microbe Hunter - Hardcover

Melanie Maslow, M.D., F.A.C.P. Chief, Infectious Diseases Section, New York Veterans Administration Medical Center, assistant professor of clinical medicine, New York University School of Medicine In this expertly written book, Dr. Philip Tierno shares his encyclopedic knowledge of microorganisms along with lessons from evolution, archaeology, history, immunology, and his research to create a comprehensive reference. Although written for nonprofessionals, all health-care providers have something to learn from this book.

They're everywhere. Silent and invisible to the naked eye, they're on everything we touch, eat, breathe -- on every single inch of our skin. And despite the remarkable advances of science, germs are challenging medicine in ways that were unimaginable just a decade ago. Due to an explosion of infections never before reported in modern history and a new germ horror story surfacing every week, it's no small wonder that we're frightened -- and that antibacterial soaps are a billion-dollar business. Now, renowned microbiologist Philip Tierno cuts through the media hype with the compulsively readable "Secret Life Of Germs, revealing exactly where the greatest threats may be hiding. "The Secret Life Of Germs provides an inside view of this fascinating and elegantly ordered microscopic world -- from the common cold, E. coli, and Lyme disease to encephalitis, mad cow disease, and anthrax. It takes readers on a historical survey of the culprits of disease and explores the effect that they -- and the scientists who study them -- have had on our world. Rising above the common scare-tactic techniques used by many authors, Dr. Tierno's message is an optimistic one. Recognizing that humans are more often than not the main spreaders of disease, he offers numerous protective response strategies -- health and hygiene tips for inside and outside the home, advice on food safety, and pointers on human contact -- to stop the transmittal. Filled with practical and enlightening information, "The Secret Life Of Germs is an engaging book that will keep readers mesmerized while helping them stay healthy.