The motive to prepare this volume on antibiotics for the physician
caring for women was based upon the editor's perception that the subject
matter had never been fully developed for the obstetrician-gynecologist.
Most textbooks of infectious disease have a small section devoted to
antibiotics, which has little relevance for the physician caring for
post-operative or post-partum infections. Basic antibiotic pharmacology
is described and there is a reflex prohibition of antibiotics for the
pregnant woman. Correctly, the reader assumes that the authors
themselves do not care for women with bacterial infections of the
pelvis. Recent texts in infectious disease in obstetrics- gynecology
have been little better. Although the focus has been more clini- cally
oriented, space requirements have too often kept the discussions at a
superficial level. A total focus upon antibiotics in this volume
eliminates the restraints of space in prior publications. The greatest
reward in my task as editor of this volume is related to the quality of
the individual authors. They range from former students, to con-
temporary colleagues, to respected peers in infectious disease. Since
the quality of this volume is related to the sum total of the individual
chapters, I wish to comment about each of the contributors. Philip Mead
from the University of Vermont is an old friend, who brings to the
question of prophylactic antibiotics, his wide clinical experience and
encyclopedic knowledge.