Interview with Patrick R. Murray, PhD, F(AAM), F(IDSA)

Why did you feel that it was important to write a book on this topic? What does your publication add to the field? 

Medical microbiology can be an overwhelming challenge for the student, with new pathogens and diseases constantly described. Basic Medical Microbiology is a concise summary of the most important pathogens and the diseases they cause, presented with a focus on what the students needs to know and not what would be nice to know. I believe the uniqueness of this book is that it is written by a clinical microbiologist with more than 45 years of successfully practicing in this field and educating medical and graduate students.

What is the most exciting aspect of your new publication? What chapter or topic covered in the new edition are you most excited about? 

The major difference between this edition and the first edition is the introduction of 8 chapters focused on clinical syndromes and the pathogens responsible for these diseases. For these chapters, the lessons are presented as clinical case studies of patients described in the scientific literature. I view these chapters as the clinical link to the 28 preceding organism-based chapters.

Who will find the greatest value from Murray’s Basic Medical Microbiology and why? 

I feel my original textbook, Medical Microbiology, provides a comprehensive discussion of this important field. But I also realize students need a fact-based summary of the field that can be used as either an introduction to microbiology or a review guide.

What new ideas, practices, or procedures do you hope your readers take away from your text? 

Ultimately (and I pardon if this is an over-simplification), the medical students wants to know “why” an organism causes a disease and the graduate student wants to know “how” the organism causes a disease. I believe both these questions are addressed in Basic Medical Microbiology by linking together the biology of the pathogens with the diseases that produce.

What problem do you hope the future generation of your specialty will be able to solve? 

I believe we are at the cusp of redefining infectious disease. Historically, we have primarily thought of disease from the perspective of one pathogen – one disease (based on Koch’s postulates). Knowledge gained from the study of the microbiome has introduced the concept that both health and disease can be caused by a community of organisms. As knowledge of the microbiome is refined, the student and teacher must understand how disease and our approach to treatment impacts of the microbiome.

Is there anything else about the Murray’s Basic Medical Microbiology you’d like to say? 

One of my greatest pleasures is having former students tell me how much they appreciated my efforts to make microbiology interesting for them. I hope I will have the same success with this second edition of Basic Medical Microbiology.

About the Author

Patrick R. Murray, PhD, is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He earned a BS from Saint Mary’s College and a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from UCLA. He also completed a clinical microbiology fellowship at the Mayo Clinic and is board certified in clinical microbiology. Dr. Murray has directed clinical microbiology laboratories at Washington University in Saint Louis, the University of Maryland Medical Center, and the National Institutes of Health. He previously served as the Worldwide Vice President of Medical and Scientific Affairs for Becton Dickinson.

Mims’ Medical Microbiology and Immunology, 7th Edition

By: Richard Goering, BA MSc PhD

ISBN: 9780323937252

Pub Date: March 12, 2024

Reviewer: Carlos Figueroa Castro, MD (Medical College of Wisconsin)

Description

This book serves as a comprehensive review of medical microbiology and immunology, featuring systematic coverage of infectious diseases by body site, alongside fundamental concepts in laboratory diagnosis, therapeutics, and infection control. This update builds upon its predecessor, published in 2019, with significant additions addressing emerging pathogens and diseases.

Purpose

The book presents an innovative, integrative approach to infectious diseases by establishing a solid foundation in microbiology and host response to infection. The text’s organization emphasizes the critical interplay between pathogen and host, making complex concepts more accessible. This methodology represents a refreshing departure from traditional approaches, enabling students to develop a thorough understanding of clinical care grounded in solid microbiological and immunological principles.

Audience

The book serves a diverse readership, functioning effectively as a primary textbook for introductory microbiology courses and potentially medical immunology programs. Different sections offer varying utility depending on the reader’s specialty, with clinicians particularly benefiting from practice-oriented segments. The authors, recognized experts in their field, successfully balance academic rigor with clinical relevance.

Book Content/Features

The book includes five principal sections: basic microbiology, immunology, basic concepts in infectious diseases, clinical presentation of infectious diseases, and diagnostic and therapeutic methods. The authors demonstrate remarkable skill in distilling complex information into concise, accessible content. Both the diagrams and clinical photographs are of exceptional quality, enhancing the learning experience. The online companion features an extensive microbial database (“bug parade”), providing additional depth for those seeking comprehensive coverage of individual pathogens. Distinctive features include high-resolution clinical photographs and illustrations, comprehensive online resources, updated coverage of emerging pathogens, clinical correlation boxes linking basic science to patient care, and clear, well-organized boxed by the end of each chapter summarizing key concepts.

Assessment

While initially comparable to Levinson’s Review of Medical Microbiology and Immunology: A Guide to Clinical Infectious Disease, 18th Edition, Chin-Hong et al. (McGraw-Hill, 2024), this book offers distinctly different value. Where Levinson’s work excels in USMLE preparation through its extensive question bank, this book provides more thorough background information in microbiology and infectious diseases. The inclusion of current topics such as COVID-19, Candida auris, and Mpox demonstrates the text’s contemporary relevance and justifies this new edition. Its integrated approach and comprehensive coverage make it an invaluable resource for both students and practicing clinicians. This book successfully bridges the gap between basic science and clinical practice, offering a thorough yet accessible review of medical microbiology and immunology. Its balanced approach, current content, and high-quality visual aids make it a valuable addition to any medical professional’s library, particularly those seeking to strengthen their understanding of the relationship between microbial pathogens and host response.

©Doody’s Review Service, 2025, Carlos E Figueroa Castro, MD (Medical College of Wisconsin), Doody’s Score: 3 stars!

Interview with Dr. Richard Goering

How has Mims’ Medical Microbiology and Immunology, 7th Edition evolved since the previous edition? How has it evolved since the first edition?

The Mims’ Medical Microbiology and Immunology, 7th Edition has dramatically changed with advances in immunology, innovative genomic approaches to the diagnosis and understanding of microbial pathogenesis, and the evolving spread and persistence of both old and newly emerging microbial pathogens.  However, the overall approach to the book has remained constant in emphasizing the dynamic conflict between infectious microbial pathogens and the opposing (human) host response.

What is the most exciting aspect of the Mims’ Medical Microbiology and Immunology, 7th Edition? What chapter or topic covered in the new edition are you most excited about? 

Discussion of newly emerging pathogens such as SARS-CoV2 and Mpox, new vaccines, new molecular approaches to infectious disease diagnosis and the understanding of microbial pathogenesis

Who will find the greatest value from Mims’ Medical Microbiology and Immunology, 7th Edition and why? Has the audience changed since the book first published?

The Mims’ Medical Microbiology and Immunology, 7th Edition remains focused on basic science, medical, and other healthcare students studying microbiology and infectious disease.

What new ideas, practices, or procedures would you like to highlight for the Mims’ Medical Microbiology and Immunology, 7th Edition? 

The goal is provide the student with a comprehensive understanding of what the conflict between infectious pathogens and human host response represents and the scientific advances that better inform ways of dealing with it.

What problem do you hope the future generation of your specialty will be able to solve? 

The battle between infectious agent and host response is a conflict that will continue to evolve in the future as it has in the past.  The hope is that Mims’ Medical Microbiology and Immunology, 7th Edition will continue to serve as an important resource in understanding and dealing with this process.

About the Author

Richard Goering is a Professor of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at Creighton University School of Medicine. He is a microbiologist with a specific interest in genomic approaches to studying antibiotic resistance and the epidemiology of Gram-positive bacterial pathogens. He teaches Masters, Ph.D., medical, dental, pharmacy, and physician assistant students.