Scope
Topics Covered
The Journal of Clinical Microbiology® (JCM) is devoted to the dissemination of new knowledge concerning the laboratory diagnosis of human and animal infections. In addition, JCM is an appropriate forum for the publication of information related to the role of the laboratory in both the management of infectious diseases and the elucidation of the epidemiology of infections. The three principal attributes required of papers published in JCM are significance, relevance to the practice of clinical microbiology, and quality science. The significance of a paper depends on novelty, timeliness, and potential for impact on patient outcomes or clinical microbiology laboratory practice. These standards are applied to all papers, regardless of the specific technology studied.
The use of guidelines for the reporting of research studies can improve the accuracy and completeness of manuscripts. Authors of papers about the diagnostic accuracy of clinical assays should refer to the Standards for the Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy (STARD) guidelines and checklist at http://stard-statement.org/. Authors of papers about molecular epidemiology should refer to the Strengthening the Reporting of Molecular Epidemiology for Infectious Diseases (STROME-ID) guidelines and checklist at http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(13)70324-4/abstract.
ASM publishes a number of different journals covering various aspects of the field of microbiology. Each journal has a prescribed scope which must be considered in determining the most appropriate journal for each manuscript.
(i) With respect to antimicrobial agents, JCM will consider clinically relevant manuscripts (a) that pertain to in vitro susceptibility test methods; (b) that are concerned with quality control procedures related to antimicrobial susceptibility tests; (c) that deal with investigations of test methods aimed at measuring levels of antimicrobial agents in clinical specimens; or (d) that describe the use of antimicrobial agents as tools in the isolation, identification, or epidemiologic assessment of microorganisms associated with disease. Manuscripts pertaining to other aspects of antimicrobial agents, such as their basic mechanisms of action, the elucidation of resistance determinants, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and the development of new agents, will be considered for publication in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy®.
(ii) Manuscripts that present the results of investigations with a primary focus on the basic mechanisms of pathogenesis of microorganisms or the pathophysiology of infections should be directed to Infection and Immunity® (for bacteria, parasites, and fungi) or the Journal of Virology® (for viruses).
(iii) Reports of clinical microbiology investigations or studies of the hospital population and the environment as they relate to nosocomial infections should be submitted to JCM. Manuscripts dealing with ecology or environmental studies or with the application of microorganisms to agricultural or industrial processes are more appropriate for Applied and Environmental Microbiology®.
(iv) JCM considers papers involving immunologic assays for use in the diagnosis of infection. Manuscripts that pertain to studies that evaluate immune responses and elucidate immune mechanisms associated with infection, all studies that pertain to vaccines, and papers that address the assessment and laboratory diagnosis of immunologic diseases (e.g., autoimmune diseases and primary immunodeficiencies) are considered outside the purview of JCM and should be submitted to mSphere®.
Questions about these guidelines may be directed to the editor in chief of the journal being considered.
If transfer to another ASM journal is recommended by an editor, the corresponding author will be contacted.
Note that a manuscript rejected by one ASM journal on scientific grounds or on the basis of its general suitability for publication is considered rejected by all other ASM journals.