METALLlC BLUE
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6628
posted
This book written by two physicians is excellent. However, upon reading the chapter on borrelia, I found it wanting. It had "some" new data but little. The authors seem very receptive to feedback and so I sent them a note. The book is read by thousands of medical students, and may be a good way to promote the newest research.
Here was what I said:
Hello Dr. Gladwin, I've read your book Microbiology MRS, 2010 print. I found it to be excellent and helpful. I have one suggestion you may find valuable for future updates. It may be prudent to include the latest data on borrelia burdorferi, B. azfeli, B. garinii and the two standards of care for treating Lyme Disease. The latest data appears contradictory, including unreliable testing - (PCR, ELISA & Western Blot, CSF) -- sero-negative testing in both early and late stages, immunosuppressive activity, pleomorphic behavior of the bacterium, biofilms, as well as duration of therapy which some data suggest can exceed 3-6 months in some "Chronic cases". Since the science remains unsettled, students may be well served with a brief note in your book to be aware of the controversy and competing theories presented by the Infectious Disease Society Of America and the International Lyme And Associated Disease Society. Relying on the clinical picture and history, absent objective evidence, may sometimes be necessary for these future physicians who encounter this illness, unfortunately.
For your convenience, a brief three page document supporting long term therapy in some patients is presented below. 80 additional pages are merely abstracts supporting the first 3. While larger DBPCT have been performed, including with NIH support, many questions remain in many areas involving this infectious disease and I think that warrants a students attention.
posted
Wow great work Michael. I hope that they listen. This goes in my keeper file. Alot of hard work went into this.
Posts: 433 | From new york | Registered: Dec 2004
| IP: Logged |
-------------------- We will win Posts: 135 | From California | Registered: Jul 2010
| IP: Logged |
Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
Michael, Thank you for all your work on this.
You get a gold star!
Carol
Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
METALLlC BLUE
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6628
posted
I received a response from him:
Dear Michael
Thanks for your great feedback.
We are working on a new addition and will consider this carefully. One challenge with such a book is to keep it simple and not overwhelming, as it is intended to form a backbone of knowledge and not serve as a reference text.
I wrote this as a student and it hit a nerve among med students, it is always a challenge to keep it �pure�,
Yours,
mark
-------------------- I am not a physician, so do your own research to confirm any ideas given and then speak with a health care provider you trust.
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic