..................................................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................... vi Table of contents ..................................................................................................................... viii List of figures ........................................................................................................................... xv List of tables ........................................................................................................................... xvii List of equations ...................................................................................................................... xix List of acronyms, symbols and abbreviations .......................................................................... xx CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1. Infectious conditions ...................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1. Micro-organisms: an overview of trends in infectious conditions ......................... 1 1.1.2. Management of infectious conditions .................................................................... 2