Media Review
Bailey & Scott’s Diagnostic Microbiology, 13th Edn.
Edited by Patricia M. Tille, PhD, MLS(ASCP)
1056 pages. St. Louis: Mosby, Inc, 2014. $124.00. ISBN: 978-0-323-08330-0
The 13th edition of Bai-
ley & Scott’s Diagnostic
Microbiology is a com-
prehensive textbook of
clinical microbiology that
will serve as an excellent
resource for students,
technologists, and practic-
ing clinical microbiologists.
Each chapter follows a
consistent format, starting
with objectives and includ-
ing figures, tables, and
a short set of pertinent
references at the end of each chapter. The new editor, Dr
Patricia M. Tille, is the program director of the Department
of Medical Laboratory Science of South Dakota State
University in Brookings. Her preface effectively lays out
the new material in this edition, setting the tone for what
to expect and emphasizing that many changes have been
made based on the comments of past reviewers. Tille and
her contributors have done a terrific job in trying to meet
the needs of readers and reviewers alike.
In terms of how it is organized, the book thoroughly covers
all of clinical microbiology using the traditional breakdown
of chapters into various organism groups (parts III-VIs);
however, it also includes a part VII that provides informa-
tion grouped by organ systems. Some textbooks use either
of these groupings but not both; because this book is
targeted to students, technologists, and practicing micro-
DOI: 10.1309/LM5JC0PH0OGGBSZZ
Reviewer
Gerri S. Hall, PhD
Retired Clinical Microbiologist
*To whom correspondence should be addressed.
E-mail: gerrihall.micro@gmail.com
e138   Lab Medicine  Fall 2013  |  Volume 44, Number 4
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biologists, it is advantageous to all readers that information
is available both ways. Again, the editor and contributors
have done a strong job of trying to meet the needs of many
different types of readers.
The graphics are excellent—beautiful figures, pictures, and
graphs provide a visual depiction of the information con-
tained in the text. Many new graphics have been included
in this edition; strong graphics from previous editions
are also included. One exception to the excellent quality
graphics is the series of microscopic slides of Nocardia
spp presented in the chapter on aerobic actinomycetes;
the book could have provided much better examples of the
Gram and modified acid-fast bacillus (AFB) stains.
Case studies are presented in most chapters and are an
excellent new feature of this edition. These studies include
questions at the end, which is always a helpful tool for
learners at all levels. These questions are also useful for
competency testing in clinical microbiology laboratories
and for teaching medical students and residents during lab
rounds. They add a great deal of information and help to
complete the contents of the chapters.
The taxonomy presented in the book is up to date. The
tables that detail all types of specimens and how to pro-
cess them are informative. The inclusion of chapters on
lab safety and lab management is helpful; also, placing the
table of contents in the front binder is ingenious because
it provides easy look-up of chapters for those in a hurry
while giving enough information to be complete. The glos-
sary at the end is extremely thorough and provides defini-
tions of terms used in the text. The index is extensive and
complete, allowing for easy look-up of topics.
Despite its strong points, the book has certain drawbacks.
Although the enhanced chapter on molecular techniques
is well written, there is an insufficient amount of discussion
about use of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization–
time of flight (MALDI-TOF) for identification of many organ-
isms. This technique is mentioned only briefly in chapter
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7 and again briefly in the mycology chapter on hyaline
molds. Many articles have been published about MALDI-
TOF; these should have been introduced and discussed.
This edition of the book, like previous editions, places too
much emphasis on biochemicals for identification of or-
ganisms. This is particularly the case for organisms such
as the actinomycetes and Mycobacterium spp, for which
biochemical testing methods need to be de-emphasized
and molecular methods and mass spectrophotometry
discussed at greater length. To be fair to the authors, they
comment in the chapter on mycobacteria that a combi-
nation of molecular and phenotypic identification will be
necessary for complete identification. However, this point
should be emphasized throughout the text, with references
given to provide further information for readers.
Dr Tille explains in the preface that an attempt was made
to reduce the size of chapters and to break down topics
into smaller segments. However, the book now contains
too many subdivisions of chapters on topics such as the
nonfermenter substances. Many rarely isolated and not
necessarily clinically relevant organisms are discussed
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Media Review
in the space of an entire chapter. In contrast, the chapter
on aerobic atinomycetes, especially Nocardia spp, does
not discuss these important entities at sufficient length.
Likewise, Clostridium difficile is given only a small sec-
tion in the chapter on anaerobes. Also, the authors should
have provided some guidance on algorithms that can be
used in the lab that are not entirely based on enzyme im-
munoassays.
In the next edition, I suggest inclusion of a reference to
Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) docu-
ments in the chapter on mycology antifungal susceptibil-
ity, the chapter on mycoplasma, and other areas in which
the topics for which these documents would be helpful
are discussed. These sources are valuable; readers need
to be made aware of them.
Despite its few shortcomings, this edition of the classic
textbook for clinical microbiologists helps to maintain
the well-reputed names of Bailey and Scott and provides
a meaningful addition to the library of the clinical
microbiologist. LM
Fall 2013  |  Volume 44, Number 4   Lab Medicine  e139