Editorial introductions

Abstract

Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases was launched in 1988. It is part of a successful series of review journals whose unique format is designed to provide a systematic and critical assessment of the literature as presented in the many primary journals. The field of infectious diseases is divided into 13 sections that are reviewed once a year. Each section is assigned a Section Editor, a leading authority in the area, who identifies the most important topics at that time. Here we are pleased to introduce the Section Editors for this issue. SECTION EDITORS Paul T. HeathPaul T. HeathPaul T. Heath is a Professor and Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Infectious Diseases at St Georges NHS Trust and St George's, University of London, UK, where he is also the Director of the Vaccine Institute. His training in paediatrics and infectious diseases was at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK, and St George's Hospital, London. His particular research interests are in the epidemiology of vaccine preventable diseases, in clinical vaccine trials, particularly in at-risk groups, and in perinatal infections and he has published over 180 original or review papers in these areas. He sits on national committees concerned with neonatal infections, group B streptococcus prevention and on immunisation policies in children. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and a member of the research committee of the European Society of Paediatric Infectious Diseases. Dennis L. StevensDennis L. StevensDr Stevens received his PhD in Microbiology from Montana State University, USA, and his MD from the University of Utah College of Medicine, USA. Following a residency in internal medicine at the University of Utah, Dr Stevens completed an infectious disease fellowship at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, USA. Since 1979 he has been Chief of Infectious Diseases at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Boise, Idaho, USA. Dr Stevens is Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, USA, and his major clinical interests have been in Staphylococcal and Streptococcal toxic shock syndromes and in skin and soft tissue infections, including necrotizing fasciitis and gas gangrene. His research interests are centered around gram positive bacteria and the role of extracellular toxins in the pathogenesis of severe soft tissue infection caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, Clostridium perfringens, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. His current research efforts investigate the mechanisms of toxin induced shock and organ dysfunction, including cardiomyopathy, the effects of toxins on endothelial cells, granulocytes, and platelets, and the importance of the mechanisms of action of antibiotics in treating gram positive infections. Dr Stevens has published over 170 original research papers, 89 book chapters, 143 abstracts and three books: Streptococcal Infections: Clinical Aspects, Microbiology and Molecular Pathogenesis (co-authored with Dr Edward Kaplan), An Atlas of Infectious Diseases: Skin and Soft Tissue, Bone and Joint Infections and Netter's Textbook of Infectious Diseases (co- authored with Dr Elaine Jong). Dr Stevens is a member of the American Society of Microbiology, a Fellow in the American College of Physicians, a Fellow in the Infectious Disease Society of America and a member of the Association of American Physicians. In 2000, Dr Stevens received the Infectious Disease Society of America's Society Citation Award, and in 2001 The William Altemier Award from the Surgical Infectious Disease Society. Dr Stevens has served as a consultant for the CDC Working Group on Invasive Group A streptococcal infections and for the WHO and NIH on similar matters. Dr Stevens is currently Chairman of the Infectious Disease Society of America Guidelines Committee on Skin and Soft Tissue Infections.