Fundamental techniques of plastic surgery and their surgical application, ed 4, McGregor, Ian A: Baltimore: The Wil- liams & Wilkins Co., 1969, 298 pp, $9.25.

Although this book i s written by a surgeon for surgeons, it can easily be understood by most members of the operating room staff. The author states he hopes this text will fill the gap between advanced text- books of plastic surgery (which usually do not contain fundamental methods); and pro- vide basic technics for the surgeon who is looking for guidance but has had no for- mal training in plastic surgery.

Three basic technics in plastic surgery

are illustrated and described with excel-

lent drawings and photographs. Since the

operating room personnel most often does

not see the end result of plastic surgery,

some of the photographs shown are of an-

other help-for they show the original in-

jury, step-by-step repairs and the final re-

sult.

The wording is sometimes different than

that found in American texts; "it would be

excised and replaced with a split-skin

graft forthwith." A few words are spelled

differently than in the United States, but

the explanation i s most understandable and

lends a bit of a change.

Frequently there i s the statement "the

methods used to provide such . . . are be-

yond the scope of this book and will not

be discussed further" (p 145) or "should be

attempted by an experienced plastic sur-

geon." Emphasized i s that this book i s not

designed for specialists "but for all those

who are concerned with the healing of

wounds."

Mabel Crawford, RN 10s Angeles, Calif

Infection control in the hospital, re- vised ed: Chicago: American Hospital As- sociation, 1970, 154 pp, $4 paperbound.

Many contributors advised the Committee for the American Hospital Association in compiling information for this revised edi- tion. Included are all facets of infection con- trol.

Most sections have been revised since the 1968 publishing, with sections on microbial sampling and isolation procedures exten- sively revised. There have been added sec- tions on gamma irradiation, intensive care units, and catheterization guidelines.

After a brief section dealing with con- sequences of infection, there i s a review of types OF infections, factors influencing and types of exposure by which infection i s spread.

Chapter 3 i s extremely helpful in setting forth guidelines for establishing infection control committees and suggesting pro- grams, services, and regulations to help the committee control and prevent nosocomial infections.

Specific responsibilities of individuals and departments and methods of prevention and control are discussed. Architectural consid- erations are included.

Topics of great interest are isolation tech- nic, antibiotic prophylaxis and types of sterilization, with advantages and disad- vantages of each. Problems such as in- fected personnel, hazardous areas, and hazardous procedures with control measures alre considered.

The book being a review of biological and physical aspects of infection control, stresses teaching hospital personnel the need for asepsis, hoping for an understanding of infection control practices. The committee states "the practice of asepsis is a basic element of that healing art."

Appendix A i s a chart of measures for the containment of contagious infectious diseases, categorized by modes of transmis- sion. Appendix B suggests guidelines for

138 AORN Journal