This core text provides an excellent concise introduction to infectious diseases. The book integrates basic science with clinical practice with disease–orientated descriptions and clinical presentations on a system–by–system basis. It is therefore ideal for both the student and the practitioner. For this new sixth edition the text has been brought fully up to date throughout. The highly structured and improved text is designed to facilitate easy access to information, making the book an ideal resource for clinical attachments and revision. There is a new chapter that covers infections in special groups, as well as coverage of sepsis and septic shock. The Introductory chapter also takes into account new control measures, emerging infections, and infections linked with bioterrorism. Information on global occurrence is added to the epidemiology sections where relevant and web site information has been included to provide up–to–date resources on fast moving topics such as AIDS, and travel–related infections such as SARS. The result is a text that is a compact yet comprehensive guide to infectious diseases. It will appeal to medical students, junior doctors, general practitioners, and allied health professionals who want a concise introduction to the subject or an ideal revision companion.