Does Merck Manual give the best up-to-date recommendations of type, dosage and duration of adult and pediatric antibiotic regimens? If not, what written reference is best?

-- Puddintame (achillesg@hotmail.com), August 06, 1999

Answers

A very good book, not mainstream medical, but easy to understand and use is "Prescription for Nutritional Healing" by James Balch (MD) and Phyllis Balch (CNC).

-- dw (y2k@outhere.com), August 06, 1999.

The standard is the "PDR" (Physicians Desk Reference). Of course anyone can buy them --- Thanks for reminding me. Many nurses (even retired ones like my 80 year old mother) will have one. They come out every year, but getting one a year or two old won't harm anything, unless you have some brand new medicine you're concerned about.

I think they're relatively expensive, but contain everything you could want to know.

-- Jon Johnson (narnia4@usa.net), August 06, 1999.

Jon, I'm looking for something organized by disease, not by drug. I do not have a PDR handy, but I only recall being able to research individual drugs, not so much the diseases.

One thing you may be trying to point out to me, and if so it's a good idea, is that I may need two references. One for diagnosis and type of drug, and then the PDR for dosages and duration.

-- Puddintame (achillesg@hotmail.com), August 06, 1999.

When I worked at the local hospitals in medical records, we ordered new ICD-9 and DRG (grouping codes) books each year for the coders. These are strictly disease codes with detailed explanations of each disease. The old books are sometimes given away upon request, you could always ask, can't hurt. Don't know if this is exactly what you are looking for, but it's the most comprehensive disease/injury list I know of that is readily available.

Hope it helps, live well, die very old ;-)

-- Sammie Davis (sammie0X@hotmail.com), August 07, 1999.

The antibiotic "Bible" is "The Sanford Guide to Antimicrobial Therapy"1999 edition. Its a small pocket book used by almost all physicians to guide antibiotic selection. Its cheap (drug reps give out by the bushel). Its organized by organ system ( the most useful section for me) by drug type side effect, pediatrics, interactions etc. Also has other useful tidbits like immunization schedules. The type is increadibly small. You can find it anywhere theres a medical bookstore.

-- kozak (kozak@formerusaf.guv), August 07, 1999.

'tane....I just bought PLAIN TALK MEDICINE FOR UNCERTAIN TIMES AND PLACES. Its Robert Berry, MD. It has diseases and then gives the various choices of drugs and dosages. I am pretty happy with this book and its $19.95 and I think that includes postage. He has a web site at www.y2kdoc.com The book is well worth the $20. Taz

-- Taz (Tassie@aol.com), August 07, 1999.

Although I'm not the one who asked for it; THANKS to the last three posters --- you really seem to have the answers and I'll be shopping shortly.

Another book you might try is "Control Of Communicable Diseases in Man" --- put out by US Public Health Service. The only place I've seen it is at University Bookstores where they teach medicine or Public Health. It describes disease symptoms, carriers, mode of communication, environmental preventative steps, and treatment (but NOT doses).

Thanks again.

-- Jon Johnson (narnia4@usa.net), August 07, 1999.

Did anybody mention "Where There is No Doctor"? I got our copy from Amazon.com, and it's quite comprehensive, and includes a chart of illnesses, recommended antibiotics and dosages based on weight & other pertinent factors. I got it last fall after someone here recommended it. It's designed for village-type health care, from womb to tomb, as they say.

I've also just received in the mail a couple of Ragnar Benson's books on health & medicines in troubled times... "The Survival Medicine Chest" and "Do-it-yourself Medicine". I haven't had a chance to scan them yet, but I'll post my thoughts when I do. Good Luck!

-- Arewyn (isitthatlate@lready.com), August 08, 1999.

there is a series of medical texts that are produced by Lange- Appleton in soft cover "we call them the lange books" there is one for internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery etc. these would be a very usefull addition to your library. they discuss diagnosis, treatment, lab tests. you may need a medical dictionary also. current diagnosis and treatment in internal medicine has been used more than any other book that i know for up to date info on what you would commonly see in the hospital and office. i always buy the updated volumes as they become available for int. medicine, peds. and surgery. good luck

sawbones

-- sawbones (md@hospital.com), August 08, 1999.

More on the Sanford Guide to Antimicrobial therapy. It cost $7.25.(I said they were cheap, best bang for the buck by far.) You can order it by tel at 802-888-2855 Email: ATMBooks@aol.com

-- kozak (kozak@formerusaf.guv), August 08, 1999.

Great info on this thread. More than I had hoped for. My dad's an internist but 10 years of retirement have pretty much "obsoleted" his working knowledge of current antibiotics. Thanks.

-- Puddintame (achillesg@hotmail.com), August 08, 1999.