Overview
Submission Instructions
Recent Publications
Frequently Asked Questions
Research Topics
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The Lancet Infectious Diseases is a journal with ISSN 1473-3099 and a manuscript submission link through Editorial Manager. The homepage highlights current issues, online first content, series, commissions, audio, and journal metrics including an Impact Factor of 31 and a CiteScore of 42.6.
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Subject
Infectious Diseases
Impact Factor
31
Quartile
Q1
Open Access Type
Hybrid
ISSN
1473-3099
eISSN
1474-4457
Invitation Only
No
Cost Range
Manuscript submission is free. Gold open access APC information is available through The Lancet open access programme; green open access is also offered.
Submission Instructions
Lancet Infectious Diseases accepts the following article types. Click on an article type to view submission instructions.
Article
Cover Letter
A covering letter is required with the first submission.
Abstract
Articles must include a semistructured abstract. The abstract must not exceed 300 words. The abstract must be semistructured. The abstract must contain the headings Background, Methods, Findings, Interpretation, and Funding.
Manuscript
Articles must be up to 3500 words, although randomised controlled trial Articles may be up to 4500 words, and the limit applies to manuscript text only. Articles should be organised with an Introduction and a Methods section and, for randomised trials and observational studies, include specified subsections such as Study design, Participants or patients, Procedures, Outcomes, Statistical analysis, and Role of the funding source. The manuscript must include a Research in context panel, a Contributors statement, a Declaration of interests, funding information, an AI disclosure statement if AI-assisted writing was used, and a data sharing statement at the end of the manuscript.
References
Articles must include no more than 30 references. References must use Vancouver style. References must be cited sequentially in the text as superscript numbers after punctuation, with journal names abbreviated in Index Medicus form and author lists giving all six authors when there are six or fewer or the first three followed by et al when there are seven or more.
Figures & Tables
Figures must be submitted separately, and tables must be supplied in Word as a separate document rather than Excel or PDF. For randomised trial Articles, a trial profile and a table of baseline characteristics are required, Kaplan-Meier plots must be editable and include numbers at risk at each timepoint without a broken y axis, and tables must use the % symbol for percentage data.
Seminar
Cover Letter
A covering letter is required for first submissions.
Abstract
A summary is required. The summary must be 150 words. The summary must be unstructured.
Manuscript
Seminars should be no more than 5000 words. The manuscript must include a Search strategy and selection criteria section stating the sources searched and the criteria for including or excluding studies. An AI declaration statement should be included at the end of the manuscript, and authors should specify their individual contributions at the end of the text.
References
Seminars should include no more than 140 references. References must use Vancouver style. References must be cited sequentially in the text as superscript numbers after punctuation marks, no references may appear in the summary or Search strategy and selection criteria panel, journal names should use Index Medicus abbreviations, and references with seven or more authors should list the first three followed by et al.
Figures & Tables
Seminars should include about five illustrations. The manuscript including tables and panels should be submitted with the first submission, while figures should also be included as part of the submission.
Review
Cover Letter
A covering letter is required for first submissions.
Abstract
An abstract is required. The summary must be no more than 150 words. The summary must be unstructured.
Manuscript
Reviews should be no more than 4500 words. Reviews should include a brief section entitled "Search strategy and selection criteria" that states the sources searched and the criteria for including or excluding studies. The manuscript must include individual author contributions at the end of the text and an AI declaration statement at the end of the manuscript or in the acknowledgment section if generative AI or AI-assisted writing was used.
References
Reviews should include no more than 100 references. References must use Vancouver style. References must be cited sequentially in the text as superscript numbers after punctuation, and references must not be included in the Search strategy and selection criteria panel.
Figures & Tables
Reviews should include about five illustrations. The manuscript should include tables and panels, while figures should be submitted as separate files. Tables should be supplied in a separate Word document from the main text.
Systematic Review
Cover Letter
A covering letter is required with the first submission.
Abstract
A structured summary is required for this article type. The summary must not exceed 300 words. The summary must be structured. The summary must include the headings Background, Methods, Findings, Interpretation, and Funding.
Manuscript
The main text must be 3500 words. The manuscript must include an Introduction ending with the study aim, Methods with Search strategy and selection criteria and Data analysis subsections, Results without subheadings, Discussion without subheadings, a Research in context panel, a Contributors statement, Acknowledgments, and a Declaration of interests section. The manuscript must include a Research in context panel with Evidence before this study, Added value of this study, and Implications of all the available evidence sections, a Contributors statement, funding and AI-use disclosures, and declarations of interests.
References
References must be limited to studies included in the article plus up to 30 additional references. References must use Vancouver style. References must be cited sequentially as superscript numbers after punctuation, two citations together must be separated by a comma with no space, three or more consecutive citations must be given as a range, and references with seven or more authors must list the first three followed by et al.
Figures & Tables
Text and tables must be submitted in a Word document, tables must be supplied in Word rather than Excel or PDF, and figures must be submitted as editable files such as .eps or .pdf. The manuscript must include a table of study characteristics and a study-selection flow chart, the study-selection figure must account for all exclusions and be supplied in an editable format such as Word or PowerPoint, and figure and table legends must be minimal and not repeat methods or analysis details.
Meta-Analysis
Cover Letter
A covering letter is required with the first submission.
Abstract
A structured summary is required. The summary must not exceed 300 words. The summary must be structured. The summary must use the headings Background, Methods, Findings, Interpretation, and Funding.
Manuscript
The main text must be 3500 words. The manuscript must include an Introduction ending with the study aim, Methods subsections for Search strategy and selection criteria and Data analysis, a Results section without subheadings, a Discussion section without subheadings, and a Research in context panel. The manuscript must include a Research in context panel, a Contributors statement, a Declaration of interests section, funding information in the Acknowledgments, and an AI disclosure statement in the Acknowledgments if AI-assisted writing was used.
References
References must be limited to studies included in the article plus up to 30 additional references. References must use Vancouver style. References must be cited sequentially as superscript numbers after punctuation, use a comma with no space between two citations and a range for three or more consecutive citations, and list all six authors when there are six or fewer or the first three followed by et al when there are seven or more.
Figures & Tables
Text and tables must be submitted in a Word document, while figures must be submitted separately as editable files such as .eps or .pdf. The article must include a table of study characteristics and a study-selection flow chart, meta-analyses should usually include a forest plot, and the study selection figure and forest plots must be supplied in editable format.
Primary Research Articles
Cover Letter
A covering letter is required for first submissions.
Abstract
Primary Research Articles must include an abstract. The abstract must be no more than 250 words. The abstract must be semistructured in five paragraphs. The abstract must contain the headings Background, Methods, Findings, Interpretation, and Funding.
Manuscript
Primary Research Articles should be up to 3500 words, although randomised controlled trial Articles may be up to 4500 words. Primary Research Articles must include a Research in context panel with the sections Evidence before this study, Added value of this study, and Implications of all the available evidence, and randomised trials should include a Randomisation and masking section within Methods. The manuscript must include individual author contributions at the end of the text, an AI declaration statement at the end of the manuscript if AI tools were used, and a data sharing statement at the end of the manuscript.
References
Primary Research Articles may include a maximum of 30 references. References must use Vancouver style. References must be cited sequentially in the text as superscript numbers after punctuation, with two citations separated by a comma and three or more consecutive citations given as a range, and references with seven or more authors should list the first three followed by et al.
Figures & Tables
First submissions should include the manuscript including tables and panels, figures should be submitted with the submission, and tables should be supplied in a separate Word document from the main text. Tables should be editable, should not have multiple parts such as A or B, and all abbreviations in a table should be listed and spelled out.
Correspondence
Cover Letter
A covering letter is required with the first submission.
Abstract
Abstract requirements are not specified.
Manuscript
Correspondence should be no longer than 250 words, or up to 400 words if it is a letter of general interest unlinked to items published in the journal. Correspondence should be written in response to previous content published in the journal. Individual author contributions must be specified at the end of the text, and any AI use must be declared at submission with a full description of how it was used.
References
No more than five references are permitted. References must use Vancouver style. References must be cited sequentially in the text as superscript numbers after punctuation marks.
Figures & Tables
Only one table or figure is permitted. The manuscript must include tables and panels, while figures are included as separate submission items.
Therapeutics Papers
Cover Letter
A covering letter must be included with the first submission.
Abstract
An abstract is required. The summary must be 150 words. The summary must be unstructured.
Manuscript
Therapeutics Papers should be 3500–4500 words. The manuscript must include a brief section entitled "Search strategy and selection criteria." The manuscript must include individual contributions at the end of the text and an AI declaration statement at the end of the manuscript.
References
Therapeutics Papers should include no more than 80 references. References must use Vancouver style. References must be cited sequentially in the text as superscript numbers after punctuation marks, and references must not be included in the Search strategy and selection criteria panel.
Figures & Tables
Therapeutics Papers should include 5–6 figures, tables, or panels. The manuscript including tables and panels should be submitted with the first submission, and figures should also be included with the first submission. Tables should be supplied in a separate Word document from the main text.
Public Health
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required with the first submission.
Abstract
Abstract requirements are not specified.
Manuscript
Public Health papers should follow the general guideline of 1500 words. The manuscript should include individual contributions at the end of the text and an AI declaration statement at the end of the manuscript if AI tools were used for manuscript preparation.
References
Public Health papers should follow the general guideline of 20 references. References must use Vancouver style. References must be cited sequentially in the text as superscript numbers after punctuation, journal names should be abbreviated in Index Medicus form, and references with seven or more authors should list the first three followed by et al.
Figures & Tables
The first submission should include figures, and tables should be supplied in a separate Word document from the main text. Table text must be editable with all grid lines visible, tables should not have multiple parts, and all abbreviations in a table should be listed and spelled out.
Clinical Picture
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required for first submissions.
Abstract
Abstract requirements are not specified.
Manuscript
Clinical Pictures should use no more than 300 words. The manuscript must include individual author contributions and an AI declaration statement at the end of the text.
References
Clinical Pictures should have no references.
Figures & Tables
The manuscript should include tables and panels, while figures should be submitted as figures. Do not use blackout bars or similar devices to anonymise patients in clinical images.
Recent Publications
Mpox virus in human breastmilk and tecovirimat pharmacokinetics: implications for postnatal transmission
Francesca Colavita, Massimo Tempestilli, Silvia Meschi, Carla Pittini, Martina Rueca, Giuseppe Sberna, Fabrizio Carletti, Simone Lanini, Silvia Cammisa, Giulia Paviotti, Lorenza Driul, Miriam De Vito, Cesare Ernesto Maria Gruber, Marco Cotrufo, Eleonora Cimini, Valentina Mazzotta, Andrea Antinori, Carlo Tascini, Fabrizio Maggi, Licia Bordi
10.1016/s1473-3099(26)00138-6
View Publication
When mpox is not mpox: varicella and measles in DR Congo
Levi Bugwaja, Nathan Banzi, Trust Faraja Mukika, Patrick Kazuba Bugale, Patrick Musole Bugeme, Emmanuel Biragi Nzenze, Heshima Lajeri Nzirimo, Salomon Mashupe Shangula, Justin Bengehya, Willy Kasi, Krutika Kuppalli, Camille Escadafal, Daniel Mukadi-Bamuleka, Jackie Knee, Jules Jackson, Elizabeth C Lee, Andrew S Azman, Espoir Bwenge Malembaka
10.1016/s1473-3099(26)00170-2
View Publication
GoGoVax dispels hopes for gonorrhoea vaccination
The Lancet Infectious Diseases
10.1016/s1473-3099(26)00126-x
View Publication
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to publish?
Fast-track submissions receive a decision on prioritisation within 48 h, the initial decision on publication is typically reached within 2 weeks, accepted fast-track papers normally publish online within 28 days of submission, and authors are informed at least a week in advance of Online First publication. Proofs should be corrected and returned within 48 h.
Reformat to Lancet Infectious Diseases using Livewrite PremiumIs a cover letter required?
A covering letter should be uploaded at the Enter Comments stage of submission. It should explain why the paper should be published in the journal, and detailed responses to reviewers’ comments in a covering letter are necessary with revisions.
Reformat to Lancet Infectious Diseases using Livewrite PremiumWhat are the publication costs?
Submission is free. The journal is hybrid and offers gold open access for eligible funded research articles and a green open access option; APC details are provided through the journal’s open access information.
Reformat to Lancet Infectious Diseases using Livewrite PremiumResearch Topics
Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology
Mosquito-borne diseases and control
SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections
Respiratory viral infections research
Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
Malaria Research and Control
Viral Infections and Vectors
Influenza Virus Research Studies
HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
Antibiotic Use and Resistance
COVID-19 epidemiological studies
Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia detection and treatment
Zoonotic diseases and public health
Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
Hepatitis B Virus Studies
Bacterial Infections and Vaccines
HIV/AIDS Impact and Responses
HIV Research and Treatment
Parasites and Host Interactions
Mycobacterium research and diagnosis
Global Maternal and Child Health