H1N1. Staph aureus. Traveler's diarrhea. All examples of human interaction with the microbial world, which counts viruses, bacteria, and parasites too numerous to mention. Infectious Disease doctor Mark Crislip has a strange relationship with this world-he spends most of his time trying to kill it, even as he appreciates the vital role microorganisms play in the Earth's ecosystems.

Puswhisperer is a collection of infectious disease anecdotes created from a year's worth of clinical blog posts from the Medscape blog Rubor, Dolor, Calor, Tumor. Originally intended for residents and...