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Book Review
The AIDS Pandemic: Impact
on Science and Society
Kenneth H. Mayer and 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
Suggested
citation for this article
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.
Jeffrey L. Stephens*
*Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, Georgia, USA
Suggested citation
for this article:
Stephens JL. The AIDS
pandemic: impact on science and society [book review]. Emerg Infect Dis
[serial on the Internet]. 2005 Nov [date cited]. Available from
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol11no11/05-0897.htm
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