Tuberculosis (Clinical Topics in Infectious Disease)

The gratifYing response to the first edition of Tuberculosis has prompted this revision. There are many important changes incorporated into this edition, including the dramatic effect of AIDS on the incidence and clinical mani festations of mycobacterial infection, new developments in epidemiology and bacteriology, and thoroughly updated therapeutic recommendations and principles of prophylaxis. The chapters that deal with clinical manifestations of tuberculosis have also been updated and include important and clinically applicable information on manifestations of tuberculosis in both the normal and immunocomprom ised host. As with the first edition, it is hoped that this text will continue to represent a definitive resource for both the basic scientist and the clinician who deal with the prevention and treatment of mycobacterial infection. II Preface to the First Edition We have just witnessed the lOOth anniversary of Koch's discovery of the tubercle bacillus. This event did not end the centuries-long saga of tuber culosis, however; it was but one major step in the ongoing struggle to un derstand and combat this disease. Tuberculosis is very much with us today, and its clinical manifestations and principles of treatment must be understood by both the primary care physician and the specialist. This monograph covers all aspects of tuberculosis in a single volume. It is divided into three parts, covering, respectively, general considerations, clin ical manifestations, and atypical mycobacterial infection.