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Book Review

Infections, Infertility and Assisted Reproduction

by Kay Elder, Doris Baker, and Julie Ribes, hardcover, 392 pp, Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press; 2005. ISBN 0521819105. Cost: US $120.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Boston University School of Medicine; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

Type of Book: Three authors, 15 chapters with references, glossaries, appendices, and recommendations for further reading.

Scope of Book: This book provides a comprehensive review of microbiology, the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of infections of the reproductive tissues, and recommendations for dealing with infections and contamination in the ART laboratory.

Contents: In the introductory chapter, the authors present charming histories of microbiology and assisted reproduction. This is followed by a concise overview of microbiology, which provides an excellent reference for those seeking basic information on the characteristics of various species of bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and prions. The next section focuses on the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of infections in the reproductive organs, and contains chapters on genital ulcer diseases, vaginitis syndromes, papillomavirus infections, urethritis and cervicitis syndromes, upper-tract infections, and blood-borne viruses. The last section covers topical issues concerning infection in the ART laboratory, including infection and contamination control, handling infectious specimens, and patient and donor screening.

Strengths: In the field of assisted reproductive technology, appropriate handling of contamination and infectious diseases can be a matter of life and death. This book provides critical tools for understanding, preventing, and dealing with infections in the ART laboratory. I am not aware of any other single source that provides such a comprehensive overview of this complex, multifaceted topic. The material is well organized, detailed, and clearly presented; numerous figures convey important concepts, and tables are used to present detailed information and summaries while not distracting from the readability of the text.

Weaknesses: There are no significant weaknesses, although I found myself wanting more details on several topics, including molecular diagnosis of infections, vaccine development, and preventing infection in virally discordant couples. Each of these topics is worthy of books in their own right, and the authors handily direct us to further reading on these and other topics.

Recommended Readership: Embryology and andrology laboratory directors and laboratory staff, medical and biology students, clinicians and nurse professionals who are integral members of the ART team.

Overall Grading:

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