Book review
World Health Organization. WHO Model Prescribing Information; Drugs Used in Mycobacterial Diseases. Geneva: World Health Organization, 1991. Softbound, 40 pages (available in English, French and Spanish editions in preparation). ISBN 92 4 140103 6. Sw.fr. 9.-/US$8.10, developing countries Sw.fr. 6.30. Order no. 1150363 from WHO, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland.
This book provides model prescribing information for some 13 essential drugs used for the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis, for the treatment of leprosy, and for the treatment of diseases caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria, including localized cutaneous lesions, pulmonary disease, lymphadenitis, and disseminated disease. Model prescribing information is produced by WHO to assist national authorities, particularly in developing countries, when preparing drug formularies, data sheets, and teaching materials.
Model prescribing information is presented in three main chapters. The first, devoted to tuberculosis, opens with a detailed overview of the disease, its clinical features, and the main principles of prevention, tuberculin testing, and chemotherapy. The special problems of diagnosis and treatment in HIV-infected patients are briefly discussed. Readers are also given detailed information on the properties of antituberculosis drugs, preferred treatment regimens, monitoring of patient compliance and therapeutic response, and the treatment of relapsing and unresponsive disease. Against this background, model prescribing information is presented for 10 drugs used in vaccination, chemoprophylaxis, and chemotherapy. Each drug is profiled in terms of its clinical uses, dosage and mode of administration, contraindications and precautions, use in pregnancy, adverse effects, and possible interactions with other drugs.
Drugs used in the treatment of leprosy are covered in the second chapter, which also features background information on the disease and the main principles of multidrug therapy. The final chapter provides prescribing information for drugs used to treat nonspecific mycobacterial infections.-WHO new book announcement