Microbiology and virology laboratories provide a diagnostic service that supports the management of patients under the care of front-line clinicians. Despite the significant overlap, laboratory expertise and clinical patient management are traditionally viewed as independent entities. Trainees in the infection disciplines of microbiology, virology, infectious diseases, and tropical medicine have until recently received separate, and as a result, limited training.

To address this problem, the UK replaced the FRCPath Part 1 examination for infectious disease trainees with a combined infection training (CIT) curriculum in 2015. Based on the idea of integration and collaboration within the field, CIT links laboratory expertise to clinical patient management.

Tutorial Topics in Infection for the Combined Infection Training Programme is the first book covering the complete CIT curriculum. Following the format of the CIT certificate examination, each chapter ends with three single best answer multiple choice questions accompanied by in-depth discussions. This extensive content helps students appreciate the breadth of knowledge required, emphasises how the different aspects of the field are related, and is an essential tool for those preparing for the CIT certificate examination.

Written by a multi-disciplinary team of medical microbiologists, virologists, infectious disease physicians, clinical scientists, biomedical scientists, public health specialists, HIV clinicians, and infection control nurses, this well-illustrated and easy to use book offers a unique insight into infectious diseases. It is the perfect primer for further study, a starting point for medical students and professionals wishing to learn more about the different topics within the infection specialty, and ideal for biomedical scientists looking to broaden their clinical understanding of the field beyond the diagnostic test.