Corrections and Retractions

The Bacteriology Journal actively encourages authors, researchers, and readers to report any instances of scientific misconduct, expressions of concern, and errors that may have been identified, particularly those that could impact the interpretation of data, results, or information presented in a published article. We strongly value the integrity and accuracy of the scientific record, and we appreciate the vigilance of our readership in helping to maintain these high standards.

Corrigendum

The Bacteriology Journal takes the integrity of the publication record seriously and issues a corrigendum to correct any factual errors that have been identified. We follow a specific procedure for issuing a corrigendum, which includes the following steps:

  1. When a correction is received, the relevant individual(s) will review the suggested changes and determine whether a corrigendum should be issued.
  2. Only significant errors directly or indirectly impacting the published data will be considered for a corrigendum. Grammatical, textual, or spelling errors will not be addressed in this manner.
  3. The published corrigendum will be linked to the original article that it corrects.
  4. The pointed errors must be distinguishable from retractions and expressions of concern.
  5. The issuance of a corrigendum is free of charge.

We take pride in our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of scientific accuracy and accountability and appreciate the assistance of our authors, researchers, and readers in upholding these principles.

Retractions & Expressions of Concern

The Bacteriology Journal adheres to the Retraction Guidelines set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and recommends these guidelines for any necessary retractions of articles. We strongly encourage the author(s) to cooperate fully in investigating such cases. Transparency and accountability are paramount in upholding the integrity of the scientific record, and we are committed to ensuring that our publications meet the highest ethical standards.

The Bacteriology Journal follows strict guidelines for considering retractions of published articles. These guidelines include the following key points:

  1. Retraction will be considered if the identified errors are significant enough to invalidate the published article's results and conclusions.
  2. Retraction will be considered if the errors are deemed to have a significant impact on the interpretation of results or if the article is found to contain fraudulent or other serious misconduct (such as data fabrication, image falsification, duplicate or redundant publication, inappropriate methodology, plagiarism, inability to obtain consent, copyright infringement, privacy violation, unethical research work, the manipulated peer review process, or any conflict of interest from the authors).
  3. Retractions will be published promptly and officially replace the original publication on the website. A "RETRACTED" watermark will be added to the original published paper to indicate the retraction.
  4. Retractions will be published in the current issue and linked to the original manuscript for its retracted record. Ideally, the authors of the articles should initiate the retraction. However, editors may accept retractions by another responsible person under certain conditions.
  5. The 'Retraction' text will explain why the specific article is retracted and include a complete citation reference to the specific article.
  6. The editors may choose to inform the institution about the author(s) whose work is retracted and may publish an announcement concerning the validity of the previously published work if deemed appropriate.

Expression of Concern

In the event of justified doubts or suspicions regarding a published article, the editors reserve the right to issue an Expression of Concern to inform readers of any potentially misleading information. It is important to note that an Expression of Concern has the potential to damage the reputation of the researcher in the same way as a retraction. Hence, it is generally advisable to postpone the publication of a retraction until an independent investigation has conclusively established the facts.

Withdrawal of Articles

There are two specific instances where an article or a part of an article may be removed, deleted, or obscured. The first pertains to situations where there are legal infringements, cases of defamation, or other legal limitations. The second pertains to instances of false or inaccurate data that, if acted upon, could pose a serious health risk. In either of these cases, a retraction will be issued to ensure that the bibliographic information about the removed article is retained for the scientific record, and a detailed explanation of the removal or withdrawal will also be provided.