Book description
They're everywhere. Silent and invisible to the naked eye, they're on
everything we touch, eat, breathe -- on every single inch of our skin.
And despite the remarkable advances of science, germs are challenging
medicine in ways that were unimaginable just a decade ago. Due to an
explosion of infections never before reported in modern history and a
new germ horror story surfacing every week, it's no small wonder that
we're frightened -- and that antibacterial soaps are a billion-dollar
business. Now, renowned microbiologist Philip Tierno cuts through the
media hype with the compulsively readable
Secret Life Of Germs,
revealing exactly where the greatest threats may be hiding.
The
Secret Life Of Germs provides an inside view of this fascinating
and elegantly ordered microscopic world -- from the common cold, E.
coli, and Lyme disease to encephalitis, mad cow disease, and anthrax.
It takes readers on a historical survey of the culprits of disease and
explores the effect that they -- and the scientists who study them --
have had on our world.
Rising above the common scare-tactic techniques used by many
authors, Dr. Tierno's message is an optimistic one. Recognizing that
humans are more often than not the main spreaders of disease, he
offers numerous protective response strategies -- health and hygiene
tips for inside and outside the home, advice on food safety, and
pointers on human contact -- to stop the transmittal. Filled with
practical and enlightening information, The Secret Life Of
Germs is an engaging book that will keep readers mesmerized while
helping them stay healthy.
Robert A. Press, M. D., Ph. D. Clinical associate
professor of medicine and chairman, Antibiotics Committee, NYU Medical
Center Essential reading for all who are concerned with their health
and with the health of others. It dispels many myths about disease
transmission and elucidates simple precautions that would result in
our being a healthier society.
Internationally known as the man who helped solve the
mystery behind toxic shock syndrome, Philip M. Tierno Jr., Ph.
D., is the director of clinical microbiology and diagnostic
immunology at New York University Medical Center and Mt. Sinai Medical
Center and a part-time associate professor in the departments of
microbiology and pathology at New York University School of Medicine.
Dr. Tierno has published numerous papers on microbial ecology and
environmental and medical microbiology in leading scientific and
medical journals worldwide and has appeared on many national shows
such as 20/20, Oprah, Dateline NBC, and PrimeTime. Dr.
Tierno lives in New York City.
