Correction and Retraction Policy

Ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and ethical standards of scientific publications is paramount at the Journal of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (JMID). In our unwavering commitment to maintaining the highest standards of scholarly communication, we recognize that post-publication issues may arise. To address such concerns with diligence and transparency, JMID has established a robust Correction and Retraction Policy. This policy outlines the procedures and outcomes associated with potential errors, offering a systematic approach to maintain the credibility and reliability of the research we disseminate.

Post-publication issues

Investigation process

·       JMID is committed to upholding scientific research integrity and conducts thorough investigations into concerns raised by authors or readers.

·       Authors are given the chance to address concerns during the investigation.

·       Access to original unprocessed data may be requested, and advice from experts may be sought.

Outcomes depending on the gravity

·       If the manuscript is under evaluation, it may be declined and returned to the author (pre-publication/production stage).

·       For published articles, outcomes vary based on the nature and severity of the issues.

Possible outcomes for published articles

Errata

·       Issued for significant errors affecting the publication record, scientific integrity, author reputation, or the journal.

·       Includes corrections for errors of omission, typing errors, or significant errors in figures or tables.

Corrigenda

·       Notice of a significant error made by authors, issued after consultation among editors and co-authors.

·       Published for errors in the author list but not for overlooked acknowledgments.

Correction or Addendum

·       An addendum is a notice of a peer-reviewed addition of information to a published paper, often in response to a reader’s request for clarification.

·       Addenda are rarely published and are only deemed necessary if the additional information is crucial to the reader’s understanding of a significant aspect of the published contribution.

Editor’s note or Expression of concern

·       Issued if issues of concern arise in a published article.

·       Followed by a second notification once the investigation is concluded.

Retraction

·       An article may be retracted if potentially serious issues are identified.

·       The author’s institution may be informed by JMID.

Correction notice for updated articles

·       If an error in a published article is identified, JMID considers publishing an updated version that clearly notes changes made, including the date(s) of the changes, in a correction notice appended to the end of the article.

·       Previous electronic versions will be marked as outdated, redirecting readers to the more recent version.

Retraction policy of JMID

JMID follows COPE guidelines for retracting a published article. An article will be retracted if:

·       Findings are unreliable due to major errors, miscalculations, experimental errors, or fabrication/falsification of data such as image manipulation.

·       The article comprises plagiarized texts.

·       Findings have been previously published elsewhere without proper attribution, disclosure, permission, or justification in cases of redundant publication.

·       The article contains material or data without authorization for use.

·       Copyright infringement or serious legal issues such as libel or privacy are identified.

·       The article reports unethical research.

·       The article has been published solely on the basis of a compromised or manipulated peer-review process.

·       The author(s) failed to disclose a major competing interest (conflict of interest) that, in the view of the editor, would have unduly affected interpretations of the work or recommendations by editors and peer reviewers.

Retraction process

·       JMID collaborates with the editor and author to draft a retraction notice explaining the reasons.

·       The retracted article's PDF is watermarked with "Retracted," but the original text remains accessible.

·       A retraction notice is published in the next available print issue, and online if required for legal reasons.

·       Removal of content may occur for legal reasons, retaining metadata.

·       JMID does not consider retraction if authorship is disputed without questioning validity, if main findings are still reliable and correctable, if editor evidence is inconclusive, or if reported conflicts of interest are deemed unlikely to influence interpretations.

No fees for author

The author is not required to pay any fees to the journal or publisher for publishing errata, corrigenda, addendum, or retraction notices.