The pus keeps flowing in this sixth volume of infectious disease clinical tales. From tricks to identifying TB, to cow pies and rain that lead to sepsis, to seemingly harmless organisms that can fester and cause disease whenever the immune system falters, Crislip’s tales will keep you on your diagnostic toes. He estimates that there are 1375 different pathogens that he needs to know for his job, even if all the Salmonellae are counted as one. Add in the vagaries of antibiotics and resistance, and the world of pus is astoundingly complex, a missed diagnosis potentially lethal. Botulism from fermented zebra tail… or from black tar heroin? Tell your horses from your zebras and get a chuckle while you do it with more bad puns and dry wit from the Puswhisperer.

Mark Crislip, MD, is a practicing Infectious Disease physician in Oregon. See all of his books on Amazon, and his multimedia empire here.