Fairbrother’s Textbook of Bacteriology, 10th Edition

Fairbrother’s Textbook of Bacteriology, 10th Edition is a comprehensive textbook covering the medical aspects of bacteriology, with particular attention to bacterial structure, biological relationships, antimicrobial substances, immune responses, and bacterial sensitivity testing. Published by Butterworth-Heinemann, this edition provides a structured introduction to bacteriology for students and professionals interested in the relationship between microorganisms and human disease.

Although published in an earlier era of microbiology, the book offers a useful historical perspective on the development of medical bacteriology, antimicrobial therapy, and laboratory approaches to bacterial identification and susceptibility testing.

About the Book

Fairbrother’s Textbook of Bacteriology is organized into three parts and 38 chapters, presenting bacteriology from a medical and biological perspective.

The text begins with the fundamental organization of the bacterial cell and progresses toward topics involving antimicrobial substances, immune responses, microbial disease, and bacterial sensitivity testing.

Its emphasis on the biological relationships between related organisms provides readers with a framework for understanding bacteria beyond simple memorization of individual species.

Structure of the Bacterial Cell

The book provides detailed coverage of the structure of bacterial cells, beginning with external components and progressing toward the internal organization of the cell.

Topics include important bacterial structures such as:

• Flagella
• Capsules
• Cell structures
• Cytoplasm
• Other components of bacterial organization

This approach helps establish a foundation for understanding bacterial biology and the characteristics that distinguish different organisms.

Medical Bacteriology

A central focus of the book is the application of bacteriology to medicine.

The text examines bacterial organisms in relation to microbial disease and their biological characteristics, making it relevant to students studying medical microbiology and bacteriology.

The discussion of relationships among allied organisms also provides a comparative perspective on bacterial groups.

Antibacterial Substances

The book discusses the toxic effects of different groups of antibacterial substances, introducing the relationship between antimicrobial agents and bacterial cells.

This provides historical insight into the development of antimicrobial treatment and the scientific principles behind the use of antibacterial substances against microbial disease.

Antimicrobial Therapy

Another notable topic is the early use of specific chemical substances for the treatment of microbial disease.

The book discusses the development of antimicrobial chemotherapy and provides historical context for some of the earliest approaches to treating bacterial infections with chemical agents.

Hypersensitivity and Immune Responses

The textbook also considers the relationship between different types of hypersensitivity and classical immune responses.

This section connects bacteriology with immunology and demonstrates how interactions between microorganisms and the immune system can contribute to disease and clinical manifestations.

Bacterial Sensitivity Testing

The final chapter focuses on methods used to determine the sensitivity of bacteria to different sulphonamides.

This provides a historical perspective on antimicrobial susceptibility testing and the laboratory assessment of bacterial responses to antibacterial compounds.

A Historical Perspective on Bacteriology

One of the distinctive aspects of the tenth edition is its place in the history of microbiology.

Modern bacteriology has developed substantially since the publication of this edition, particularly in areas such as molecular diagnostics, genomics, antimicrobial resistance, and automated susceptibility testing. Nevertheless, the book can be valuable for readers interested in understanding how medical bacteriology and antimicrobial chemotherapy were approached in an earlier period.

Who Is This Book For?

Fairbrother’s Textbook of Bacteriology, 10th Edition may be useful for:

• Medical students
• Microbiology students
• Bacteriology students
• Medical microbiologists
• Bacteriologists
• Pathologists
• Clinical laboratory professionals
• Microbiology educators
• Chemists interested in antimicrobial agents
• Readers studying the history of medical microbiology

It is particularly relevant for readers interested in the foundations and historical development of medical bacteriology.

Final Thoughts

Fairbrother’s Textbook of Bacteriology, 10th Edition presents a structured examination of medical bacteriology, covering bacterial cell structure, relationships among bacterial groups, antibacterial substances, antimicrobial chemotherapy, hypersensitivity, immune responses, and bacterial sensitivity testing.

While its scientific content reflects the period in which it was published, the book remains useful as a historical and educational reference in bacteriology, particularly for readers interested in the development of medical microbiology and antimicrobial treatment.

Book Information

Title: Fairbrother’s Textbook of Bacteriology
Edition: 10th Edition
Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann
Publication Date: January 1, 1970
Language: English
Print Length: 460 pages
ISBN-10: 0433101008
ISBN-13: 978-0433101000
Subjects: Bacteriology / Medical Bacteriology / Microbiology / Immunology / Antimicrobial Chemotherapy

Fairbrother’s Textbook of Bacteriology, 10th Edition provides an overview of medical bacteriology, bacterial cell structure, antibacterial substances, hypersensitivity and immune responses, antimicrobial chemotherapy, and bacterial sensitivity testing, offering a valuable historical perspective on the foundations of bacteriology and infectious disease treatment.