Antimicrobe searches a number of text books on infectious diseases, antimicrobial agents, microorganisms, transplant diseases, and infection control in an effort to provide the most fact-based, general overview on a virus, agent, or organism. The database’s editorial board decides which sources to include in the 500 plus international titles that make up its extensive library.

When searching the database, users will notice that the search box predicts what they’re typing with a drop-down list of suggested search queries. The database works best if a choice is made from one of the options provided. For instance, if one begins to key in “west nile…” the drop down list populates West Nile Virus and West Nile Virus in Transplant Infections.

It is noteworthy to point out, however, that Antimicrobe is limited in regard to the currency of its information. Because it pulls overview material and content from textbooks on various subjects in the infectious disease field, it may lag it terms of some newly discovered antimicrobial agents, microorganisms, and viruses.

An example is the recent emergence of MERS (Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome). If you search Antimicrobe for variations of this coronavirus, you will notice no suggested drop-down list and no results retrieved when clicking on SEARCH. This is because MERS is too new to have been written about and published in any textbook that Antimicrobe may deem worthy for inclusion in their collection.

Antimicrobe is a resource that the Library acquired as a result of several client recommendations. If you have any book or journal suggestion, please feel free to let us know. We want to hear from you!