Customer Reviews

Medical Microbiology & Immunology

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Yes folks, this is better than Made Rediculously Simple. Well, let me rephrase that. I like this book a lot better. Now dont get me wrong, MRS is a good book and I use both, but if I could only choose one, I would go with this one.

First of all, it just came out this summer. So it does have some recent updates that MRS doesnt have, particularily with the antibiotics. I also think it offers better clinical scenarios and presentations of the various bugs. It is in depth with what you need to know, yet concise at the same time. Ive used it for class, and for board prep. Another thing, is that it doesnt have those silly mnemonics that can often be very far fetched and cumbersome. And yet one more thing, but may sound silly, is that I like the font and layout better. It makes more judicious use of tables as well to drive home key points.

And the best of all, is that it has over 600 USMLE style questions. I thought for the most part, they were indicative of what you will see on the real thing. Last but not least, it also has a great section devoted to medical immunology, so no need to buy another separate book.

So if you have money to get both, do it. But if you are trying to choose between the two, I say get this one. The LANGE Pharm and Board review book is good too. Good luck.

I love this book but the reason i gave this book 4 stars is just because they didn't bother to correct some mistakes of the seventh edition. In this edition (eighth), on page 41 (Chapter 7) Botton note says: Pseudomonas aeruginosa {endotoxin} has the same mode of action. Refering to Diphtheria toxin. It should be {exotoxin}. Another example (to show you a few) is in the same chapter on page 43 table 7-13, it says:
Nervous system
Gram-positive rods:
Clostridium tetani>>>>inhibit acetylcholine release
Clostridium botulinum>>>>inhibit glycine release
As you can see they are mismatched.
So this book is almost perfect, excellent contents but with a few mistakes in some concepts.

The immunology section of this book is the most convoluted reading I have had in all my readings for the step 1. Frankly, the figures are far superior in explaining what the author is trying to convey. Maybe this book was helpful for others but it just frustrated me and did not expand any more than what was already more concisely described in first aid. Bottom line, not worth the time.

the immunlogy section is extra ordinary with concise yet comprehensive ! it simplified not only for usmle but also for medical carrier, so it should study first before the other topics.
I think the book needs more thorough answers for usmle questions as most of us purchase for usmle reviews not for text !