Instructions for Authors

Comprehensive guidelines for preparing and submitting clinical microbiology research manuscripts to IJCM.

IJCM publishes several article formats, each with specific requirements tailored to its purpose and expected contribution to clinical microbiology knowledge and diagnostic laboratory practice.

Organize original clinical microbiology research manuscripts following standard scientific format. Clear structure enhances readability and facilitates peer review of diagnostic laboratory research.

• Title page: Concise title (maximum 150 characters), all author names and affiliations, corresponding author contact, word count, and conflict of interest disclosures
• Abstract: Structured format with background, methods, results, and conclusions. Include 3-6 keywords from MeSH vocabulary for clinical microbiology indexing
• Introduction: Background context, research question rationale, and study objectives for clinical microbiology investigation
• Methods: Detailed methodology enabling replication, including microbiological techniques, patient populations, statistical approaches, and ethics approvals
• Results: Objective findings without interpretation, organized logically with supporting tables and figures for diagnostic data
• Discussion: Interpretation of findings, comparison with existing clinical microbiology literature, limitations, and clinical laboratory implications
• References: Vancouver style, numbered consecutively in order of first citation in clinical microbiology text

Proper formatting ensures consistent presentation and efficient processing of clinical microbiology manuscripts through the production workflow.

All clinical microbiology research involving human subjects must comply with established ethical standards. Authors bear responsibility for ensuring appropriate approvals and consents for diagnostic laboratory research.

• Institutional review board or ethics committee approval required for human subjects clinical microbiology research
• Informed consent documentation for patient specimens and diagnostic data use
• Clinical trial registration in public registries for interventional microbiology studies
• ARRIVE guidelines compliance for animal studies in clinical microbiology research
• Complete conflict of interest disclosure for all authors and funding sources

IJCM requires adherence to appropriate EQUATOR Network reporting guidelines based on clinical microbiology study design. These standards ensure completeness and transparency in diagnostic research reporting.

• STARD: Diagnostic accuracy studies for clinical microbiology assays and laboratory tests
• STROBE: Observational clinical microbiology studies including cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional designs
• CONSORT: Randomized clinical trials in diagnostic microbiology and antimicrobial interventions
• PRISMA: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of clinical microbiology literature
• CARE: Clinical microbiology case reports with diagnostic laboratory significance

Use Vancouver style for clinical microbiology references. Number citations consecutively in order of appearance. Cite published peer-reviewed articles wherever possible for diagnostic laboratory context.

Journal article example: Smith AB, Jones CD. Detection of antimicrobial resistance in clinical isolates. J Clin Microbiol. 2023;45(3):234-241.

Book chapter example: Wilson EF. Diagnostic bacteriology methods. In: Laboratory Medicine Handbook. 5th ed. Chicago: Clinical Press; 2022. p. 123-145.

All listed authors must meet ICMJE authorship criteria for clinical microbiology publications: substantial contribution to conception, data acquisition, or analysis; drafting or critical revision; final approval; and accountability for the work. Contributors not meeting criteria should be acknowledged for clinical microbiology research.

Submit manuscripts through our online ManuscriptZone system. The platform guides authors through required information and document uploads for clinical microbiology submissions.

All clinical microbiology submissions undergo rigorous peer review by at least two qualified reviewers with relevant expertise in diagnostic laboratory science. The review process evaluates scientific validity, methodological rigor, originality, and contribution to clinical microbiology knowledge. Authors receive detailed feedback with constructive suggestions for manuscript improvement.

When revision is requested, authors should address all reviewer comments systematically with point-by-point responses. Highlight changes in the revised clinical microbiology manuscript to facilitate re-review. Revisions are typically due within 30 days for minor revisions and 60 days for major revisions. Extensions may be requested through the editorial office for diagnostic laboratory research.

IJCM aims for prompt publication of accepted clinical microbiology research. Initial editorial decisions are typically provided within four weeks of submission. Accepted manuscripts proceed to production immediately upon final approval and payment of article processing charges. Most articles are published online within two weeks of production completion, with DOI assignment enabling immediate citation of diagnostic research findings.

Authors who discover errors in published clinical microbiology articles should contact the editorial office promptly. Corrections are published as errata with links to the original article. Significant changes affecting conclusions may require formal correction notices or, in rare cases, retraction following COPE guidelines for diagnostic laboratory research.

For questions about submission requirements, manuscript preparation, or the review process for clinical microbiology research, contact the editorial office at [email protected]. Our team responds within one business day to author inquiries and can provide guidance on formatting requirements and ethics compliance.