Hachette The Perfect Predator: A Scientist's Race to Save Her Husband from a Deadly Superbug: A Memoir

My husband bought this book for me at my request. I am a retired healthcare professional with a background in nursing, microbiology, infection prevention and communicable disease control. I have always had a particular interest in the use of bacteriophages ( viruses which attack bacteria) as a treatment option when the bacteria causing the infection are no longer susceptible to the available antibiotics. I started reading the book at 5pm on the night it arrived and could not put it down until I finished it at 11pm. Very well written, easy to read with a very suspenseful section about the race to obtain and administer a bacteriophage preparation to a man at death's door in an Intensive Care Unit with a life threatening infection caused by multiply antibiotic resistant bacteria. Although it has been known for many years that the potential existed for using bacteriophages to treat bacterial infections this treaTment has been left in the shadows. A considerable amount of scientific and clinical expertise is required to make this type of treatment possible, in addition to perseverence and belief that it can be effective. Steffanie Strathdee's persistence and determination to save her husband, Tom's, life led to her accessing a network of skilled scientific and medical contacts who found, made and administered a combination of bacteriophage preparations which saved her husband's life.This book describes an unbelievably stressful and challenging journey from the trip abroad where Tom first became ill to a life saving novel treatment many months later when many had given up hope.I have always been amazed by what people can survive when they maintain the will to live and others are fighting on their behalf too.Whilst this book is an emotional journey describing a life saved the success of the treatment used has implications for the wider population and underlines the benefits a significant investment in research and clinical trials using bacteriophage therapy could bring.As the author integrates straighforward explanations of medical terminology into to the book as and where required I would recommend it to lay people as well as other healthcare professionals

A great read, this book provides an insight into the effects of bacteriophage usage that is not available anywhere else. This inside view of what they can achieve paired with a strong writing ability by the author makes for both a gripping read as well as a valuable source of information.

Brilliant book

A very readable book about phages and cooperation in medical matters.

Liked everything