Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link
Volume 11, Number 11—November 2005
Books and Media

The AIDS Pandemic: Impact on Science and Society

Cite This Article

Kenneth H. Mayer; H.F. Pizer, editors
Elsevier Academic Press, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and Boston, Massachusetts, 2005
ISBN: 0-12-465271-9
Pages: 537; Price: US $84.95

As we enter the third decade of the AIDS pandemic, numerous texts explore the many aspects of AIDS and its consequences. Mayer and Pizer's premise is that AIDS has transformed many of the disciplines that it has touched. For the most part, this well-written volume supports their thesis. The authors, all established researchers, tackle many of the major issues, including virology, immunology, vaccines, microbicides, and sexually transmitted diseases, as well as the global impact of HIV/AIDS. Each chapter provides a well-referenced overview of its topic with many references as recent as 2003.

One of the real strengths of this book is a chapter on quantitative science that explores not only the history of HIV clinical trials, but also the design and importance of clinical trials in general. This chapter should be required reading for those considering clinical research in HIV. The chapters on Africa and Asia ably contrast the differences in these areas of highest prevalence. Another strength is the discussion of HIV in correctional facilities and the challenge of caring for this population, including their coexisting conditions and illicit drug use. Lastly, the discussion of the economics of AIDS is especially welcome in this era of efforts to increase access to drugs worldwide.

Overall, this book fills a valuable niche. A relatively concise text, it reviews many aspects of HIV with a focus on how each topic has evolved over the years. A few tables are small, but overall the diagrams and charts are clear and legible. This book would be of interest to infectious disease fellows, HIV caregivers, and those involved in public health and health policy. I heartily recommend this book and plan to keep it handy for future reference.

Top

Jeffrey L. Stephens*Comments to Author 
Author affiliation: *Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, Georgia, USA

Top

Cite This Article

DOI: 10.3201/eid1111.050897

Related Links

Top

Table of Contents – Volume 11, Number 11—November 2005

EID Search Options
presentation_01 Advanced Article Search – Search articles by author and/or keyword.
presentation_01 Articles by Country Search – Search articles by the topic country.
presentation_01 Article Type Search – Search articles by article type and issue.

Top

Comments

Please use the form below to submit correspondence to the authors or contact them at the following address:

Jeffrey L. Stephens, Department of Internal Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine, 707 Pine St, Macon, GA 31201, USA; fax: 478-301-5856

Send To

10000 character(s) remaining.

Top

Page created: February 17, 2012
Page updated: February 17, 2012
Page reviewed: February 17, 2012
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
file_external