Written in clear, nontechnical language, this investigation of drug resistance provides readers with an overview of the scientific issues, the current scope of the problem nationally and globally, and the measures that can be taken to combat this public health crisis.
Drug resistance—the reduction in the effectiveness of a particular medicine (particularly antimicrobials) in treating a disease or condition—is considered one of the most pressing issues in medicine today. This problem is likely to have profound impacts on society in the decades to come. This understandable, single-volume book explores the history of drug resistance, explains how drug resistance occurs, cites the most problematic examples, identifies the potential consequences, and describes how drug resistance can be prevented. It also pays attention to current issues and controversies surrounding this topic, such as the role of the industrialized food system in breeding antibiotic-resistant strains of E. coli.
The coverage includes up-to-date information about specific diseases like tuberculosis, malaria, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), for which drug resistance is a particular issue. Readers will understand how human behavior, such as patient non-adherence to treatment and physician over-prescription of antibiotics, have served to foster drug resistance. A selection of primary documents sourced from organizations such as the World Health Organization, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will serve those interested in pursuing more detailed research on particular topics.
Features
- Provides an accessibly written introduction to the science of drug resistance that addresses both the biology of how microbes become resistant and the social practices that can foster drug resistance
- Summarizes information about the scope of drug resistance both in the United States and worldwide, allowing readers to understand this issue both as a national concern and in the global context
- Suggests a number of measures that can be taken to combat drug resistance, from changes in individual behaviors to larger policy changes
- Discusses complex ethical issues such as the need to weigh individual freedoms against societal rights in a balanced manner
Sarah E. Boslaugh, PhD, MPH, is a technical writer and editor as well as an adjunct faculty member of the Department of Biostatistics in the School of Public Health, Saint Louis University. She is the author of numerous books, including Health Care Systems Around the World: A Comparative Guide and Secondary Data Sources for Public Health and Statistics in a Nutshell, and she served as editor in chief for Encyclopedia of Epidemiology and The SAGE Encyclopedia of Pharmacology and Public Health.
Reviews
"At each stage of the text, the reader is aware of the informational progress made—i.e., what information has come before and what information remains to complete the progression. The primary documents that serve as sources of information are identified and weighted. A helpful time line from 1632 to 2016 provides an unexpected historical background. Due to the overall superior quality of this work, it is most highly recommended for all readership levels. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers."—Choice, July 1, 2017
Best Community College Resource - July 2017—Choice, July 28, 2017
Health and Medical Issues Today
From the latest developments in treatment to updates on public health threats, information about health and medicine impacts lives more directly than almost any other subject. Despite a wealth of coverage online and in print media, there is still an overwhelming need for a single source to which a reader can turn for accurate, current information on an issue of concern.
The series Health and Medical Issues Today provides just such one-stop resources for those seeking solid overviews of the most controversial and persisting issues in health and psychology. Each volume offers a balanced, in-depth introduction to the medical, scientific, legal, and cultural aspects of subjects ranging from obesity to sports medicine, mental illness, HIV/AIDS, and tobacco use.
