The sections of a manuscript should appear in this order: title
page, abstract and key words, text, acknowledgments, biographical
sketch(es), references, tables, figure legends, and figures.
Abstract should be brief and should not contain references, tables,
or figures.
Include up to 10 keywords; use terms listed in the Medical Subject
Headings from Index Medicus (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/tsd/serials/lji.html).
Occasionally, appendixes are used for data that cannot be represented
easily as a table or figure but are central to the article. In
these instances, we follow the AMA Manual of Style (9th edition),
excerpted below:
Appendixes are cited in the text as a table or figure would be
cited (Appendix 1) and are usually placed at the end of the article,
before the references.
If the appendix cites references but contains no figures or tables,
it should be placed before the reference list for the article,
and the references should be sequential with those in the text.
If the appendix contains figures or tables, but cites no references,
the appendix should be placed after the text and text reference
list, and the figures and tables should be numbered separately
in the appendix and the text (Appendix Table, Appendix Figure
1).
If the appendix has figures or tables and references, the appendix
should be places after the text and text reference list, and both
the figures and tables and the references should have new numbering
(Appendix Figure 1, Appendix Table 1, and a separate reference
list beginning with reference 1).
Provide a brief sketch (no more than three sentences) for the
first author (both authors, if there are only two). Include title,
areas of expertise, and research interests. If the author has
moved, state where the original work for this study was performed.
For word processing, use WordPerfect or MS Word. Create tables
within the word processing program's table feature (not columns
and tabs within the word processing program). Do not use endnotes
for references. Send graphics in native, .TIF (Tagged Image File)
AND .EPS (Encapsulated Postscript) formats when possible. The
preferred font for graphics files is Helvetica. Convert Macintosh
files into the suggested formats and also provide camera-ready
prints or transparencies.
Follow the Uniform Requirements (http://www.icmje.org/index.html#reference)
style. Within text, place reference numbers in parentheses (not
in superscripts) and number citations in order of appearance (in
text, figures, and tables). Cite personal communications, unpublished
data, and manuscripts in preparation or submitted for publication
in parentheses in text. Consult List of Journals Indexed in Index
Medicus for accepted journal abbreviations; if a journal is not
listed, spell out the journal title in full. List the first six
authors followed by "et al." Do not use End Notes for references.
Limit references to 40-60 for longer articles, 15 for dispatches,
10 for letters.
Create tables within the word processing program's table feature
(not columns and tabs within the word processing program). Do
not submit tables as photographs or graphic files. Illustrations
are encouraged; use color as needed. Send as electronic files,
slides, photographs, or prints. Avoid tables and figures in landscape
style. Figures, symbols, lettering, and numbering should be clear
and large enough to remain legible when reduced ( a minimum of
12-point size before reduction). Place figure keys within the
figure. Capitalize first word only on axis labels. Units in thousands
must have commas (e.g., 1,000). Use color only when needed for
clarity. For other considerations, study the ASM Manual of Style.
Provide a text equivalent for every non-text element (charts,
graphs, photographs) explaining the meaning in such a way that
a visually impaired person can understand it. For more information,
contact the Web Accessibility Initiative, Section SOB of the Rehabilitation
Act; http://www.section508.gov
Click here for
more detailed information on tables and figures.
Double-space everything, including the title page, abstract,
references, tables, and figure legends. Type only on one side
of the paper and number all pages, beginning with the title page.
Use tabs to indent paragraphs; leave no extra space between paragraphs.
Leave only one space between sentences. Use Courier font size
12 and ragged right margins. Italicize (rather than underline)
scientific names when needed.
Give title. Give complete information about each author (i.e.,
full name, affiliation, and the name of the institution
in which the work was done). Also provide address for correspondence
(include fax number and e-mail address).
Perspective, Synopses, Research Studies, and Policy Reviews:
Articles should be no more than 3,500 words and should include
no more than 40 references. Use of subheadings in the main body
of the text is recommended. Photographs and illustrations are
encouraged. Provide a short abstract (150 words) and a brief biographical
sketch.
Thoughtful essays on philosophical issues related to science
and human health.
Short reviews (250 to 500 words) of recently published books
on emerging disease issues are welcome.
Thoughtful discussions (500 to 1,000 words) of current topics.
Commentaries should not include figures or tables.
These brief articles are updates on infectious disease trends
and research. The articles include descriptions of new methods
for detecting, characterizing, or subtyping new or reemerging
pathogens. Developments in antimicrobial drugs, vaccines, or infectious
disease prevention or elimination programs are appropriate. Case
reports are also welcome. Dispatches (750 to 1,500 words) need
not be divided into sections. Provide a short abstract (50 words);
references, not to exceed 15; figures or illustrations, not to
exceed two; and a brief biographical sketch of the first author.
This section includes letters that give preliminary data or
comment on published articles. Letters (500 to 1,000 words) should
not be divided into sections, nor should they contain figures
or tables. References (not more than 10) may be included.
We welcome brief announcements (50 to 150 words) of timely events
of interest to our readers. (Announcements may be posted on the
journal web page only, depending on the event date.) In this section,
we also include summaries (500 to 1,000 words) of conferences
focusing on emerging infectious diseases. Summaries may provide
references to a full report of conference activities and should
focus on the meeting's content.
Articles in this section should provide insightful analysis
and commentary about new and reemerging infectious diseases or
related issues. Perspectives may also address factors known to
influence the emergence of diseases, including microbial adaptation
and change; human demographics and behavior; technology and industry;
economic development and land use; international travel and commerce;
and the breakdown of public health measures. Articles should be
approximately 3,500 words and should include references, not to
exceed 40. If detailed methods are included, a separate section
on experimental procedures should immediately follow the body
of the text. Photographs and illustrations are encouraged.
Articles in this section report public health policies that
are based on research and analysis of emerging disease issues.
These articles report laboratory and epidemiologic results within
a public health perspective. Although these reports may be written
in the style of traditional research articles, they should explain
the value of the research in public health terms and place the
findings in a larger perspective (e.g., "Here is what we found,
and here is what the findings mean").
This section comprises concise reviews of infectious diseases
or closely related topics. Preference is given to reviews of new
and emerging diseases; however, timely updates of other diseases
or topics are also welcome. Use of subheadings in the main body
of the text is recommended. If detailed methods are included,
a separate section on experimental procedures should immediately
follow the body of the text. Photographs and illustrations are
encouraged.
