Journal profile · Infectious Diseases
International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents
ISSN 0924-8579 · eISSN 1872-7913 · Elsevier · NETHERLANDS · Monthly · Founded 1991
International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents: CAS Zone 2 · Medicine (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 4.93; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,280; median 110 days to acceptance (112 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: fairly easy; 242 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents is published by Elsevier and is in Zone 2 of Medicine in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria, Antibiotics Pharmacokinetics and Efficacy and Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus, together about 38.6% of its articles. Its main subfields are Epidemiology. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Official journal of the International Society of Antimicrobial ChemotherapyThe International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents provides comprehensive and up-to-date peer reviewed reference information on the physical, pharmacological, in vitro and clinical properties of individual antimicrobial agents (antiviral agents, antiparasitic agents, antibacterial agents, antifungal agents, etc.). In addition, the journal signals new trends and developments in the field through highly authoritative review articles on antimicrobial agents. Special attention is given to articles providing insight into the problems of antimicrobial resistance both in the hospital and in the community. Both solicited reviews by top experts in the mentioned fields and high-quality original research papers are published.Additional information on the ISAC and its activities can be found at the ISAC Web site at: https://www.isac.world
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Infectious Diseases
Editor-in-chief Jian LiPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 13 in mainland China (about 12%); most named United Kingdom 18, Australia 18, Mainland China 13, United States 11, Canada 6 (112 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Antibiotic Resistance in BacteriaBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology18.3%
- Antibiotics Pharmacokinetics and EfficacyMedicine11.5%
- Antimicrobial Resistance in StaphylococcusMedicine8.8%
- Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility TestingBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology6.5%
- Pneumonia and Respiratory InfectionsMedicine6%
- Antibiotic Use and ResistanceImmunology and Microbiology5.8%
- Antifungal resistance and susceptibilityMedicine4.6%
- Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensingBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology3.6%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Medicine Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Pharmacology & Pharmacy | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Infectious Diseases | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Microbiology | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Medicine Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Infectious Diseases | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Microbiology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Pharmacology & Pharmacy | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Medicine Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Infectious Diseases | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Microbiology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Pharmacology & Pharmacy | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
PubMedPublisher website
Other: Crossref
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 4.93LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 5Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 8.3LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 8.3Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 1.3LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.4LetPub ·
- h-index
- 111LetPub ·
- h-index
- 188OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 5,227OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 4.19OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 4%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 34.98%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 190LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 12,041 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 294 | 103 | 158 |
| 2025 | 242 | 83 | 836 |
| 2024 | 324 | 139 | 2,607 |
| 2023 | 336 | 158 | 4,526 |
| 2022 | 166 | 59 | 2,926 |
| 2021 | 458 | 135 | 4,222 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with PubMed · to
110 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 74 days – 151 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 7 days (112 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 116 days
- Sample
- 112 articles with submission and acceptance dates (599 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- 3–8 weeksLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- Fairly easyLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 10 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 64 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 144 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 6 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 3,280 / EUR 3,070 / GBP 2,630 / JPY 406,820 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 3,280 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
Other charges and waivers (author guidelines)
- Page charges
- No page charges
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
Open calls for papers1, by deadline
Publisher websiteWhat to prepare4 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 3
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 4,000 words
- Cover letter
- Required
Article types accepted12, with length limits
- editorialAll manuscripts are subject to peer review. If changes are requested, revisions received later than 3 months after this request will be treated as new submissio…Length not stated
- hot topicsHot Topics: These tend to be invited papers but unsolicited Hot Topic articles are welcome. There are no abstract, keywords or section headings.Length not stated
- letterThe following types of manuscripts are routinely accepted (please note that word count is from abstract to references but excluding references):Original Article…Length not stated
- lettersLetters: Headings should not be used in a letter; no abstract or keywords are required. The text should be no more than 800 words; there should be a maximum of …Length not stated
- original articleThe following types of manuscripts are routinely accepted (please note that word count is from abstract to references but excluding references):Original Article…Length not stated
- original articlesOriginal Articles: The form of these articles is discussed fully below; an abstract is required. They should be no longer than 4000 words and 40 referencesLength not stated
- reviewThe following types of manuscripts are routinely accepted (please note that word count is from abstract to references but excluding references):Original Article…Length not stated
- reviewsReviews: An abstract and keywords are required. The text should be divided into sections by suitable headings. Tables and figures may be used as appropriate for…Length not stated
- short communicationelines Follow the PRISMA 2020 checklist Short Communications: These should be no more than 2,500 words, with up to 20 references and a maximum of 3 figures or t…main text ≤ 2,500 words
- short communicationsShort Communications: These should be no more than 2,500 words, with up to 20 references and a maximum of 3 figures or tables.Length not stated
- systematic reviewThe following types of manuscripts are routinely accepted (please note that word count is from abstract to references but excluding references):Original Article…Length not stated
- systematic reviewsSystematic Reviews: An abstract and keywords are required. The text should be divided into sections by suitable headings. Tables and figures may be used as appr…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI in scientific writing
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Authorship
All authors should have made substantial contributions to all of the following: (1) the conception and design of the study, or acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data, (2) drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content, (3) final approval of the version to be submitted.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of interest
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence (bias) their work. Examples of potential competing interests include employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, paid expert testimony, patent applications/registrations, and grants or other funding. Authors must disclose any interests in two places:…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright
Upon acceptance of an article, authors will be asked to complete a 'Journal Publishing Agreement' (see more information on this). An e-mail will be sent to the corresponding author confirming receipt of the manuscript together with a 'Journal Publishing Agreement' form or a link to the online version of this agreement.Subscribers may reproduce tables of contents or prepare lists of articles includ…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
Please visit our Open Access page for more information about open access publishing in this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
Peer review type: single anonymized review process Model summary
This journal operates a single anonymized review process. All contributions will be initially assessed by the editor for suitability for the journal. Papers deemed suitable are then typically sent to a minimum of one independent expert reviewer to assess the scientific quality of the paper. The Editor is responsible for the final decision regarding acceptance or rejection of articles. The Editor's…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Please note that preprints can be shared anywhere at any time, in line with Elsevier's sharing policy. Sharing your preprints e.g. on a preprint server will not count as prior publication (see 'Multiple, redundant or concurrent publication' for more information).
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Country or region
- NETHERLANDS
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 1991
- ISSN
- 0924-8579
- Electronic ISSN
- 1872-7913
- Society / sponsor
- International Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents
What CAS zone is International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents is in Zone 2 of Medicine, and in Zone 1 of the minor category Pharmacology & Pharmacy / Infectious Diseases / Microbiology. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 2 of Medicine. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 4.93; CiteScore 8.3, h-index 188.
How long does peer review take at International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents?
Based on the dates recorded on 112 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 110 days (interquartile range 74–151 days); authors report an average review time of 3–8 weeks; the community-reported acceptance is “Fairly easy”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: ≥ 3; Manuscript length: ≤ 4,000 words; Cover letter: Required. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents based?
Of the 112 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 13 (about 12%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United Kingdom (18), Australia (18) and Mainland China (13). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents is indexed in SCIE and Scopus. The journal's website also lists PubMed; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents open access, and what is the APC?
International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,280.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-25). Last updated: .