A dazzle of zebras: launch of <i>ASM Case Reports</i>

Abstract

ReviewT he American Society for Microbiology (ASM) journals are some of the most prominent and well respected in the microbial sciences.This high-quality portfolio is home to a wide variety of scholarly publications, ranging from exceptional basic and clinical research to widely read and cited review journals.Together, these journals span the microbial sciences and serve as an important vehicle to communicate the latest information and advances.A missing element in this outstanding portfolio (until now) is a home for case reports relevant to the microbial sciences.Thus, ASM Case Reports is launching, with the first issue anticipated in January 2025.I believe in the utility of high-impact case reports to serve as illustrative teaching and communication tools to describe new information and demonstrate why that informa tion is important.The act of linking clinical scenarios or syndromes to specific cases makes them less abstract and serves as a conduit to facilitate learning while tangibly demonstrating the clinical significance of a specific concept.When the topic of a case report is important, and the manuscript is well done, the paper is an enduring contribu tion to the scientific literature.For example, the 2003 New England Journal of Medicine case report on the first infection with a vancomycin-resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus has been cited more than 800 times and continues to be cited in 2024 (1).Case reports were used to convey initial observations of patients experiencing Pneumocystis pneumonia and Kaposi's sarcoma in the early days of the HIV epidemic (2, 3), and case reports were tools used to communicate the arrival of COVID-19 in the United States (4).I am honored and excited to have the opportunity and responsibility to serve as the founding Editor in Chief for ASM Case Reports.Our goal is for ASM Case Reports to serve individuals in a variety of work habitats in the microbial sciences, including practicing medical technologists, clinical microbiologists, infectious disease specialists, infection prevention specialists, pathologists, public health practitioners, and regulators in academia, industry, government, and healthcare.The articles will be of interest to readers at all career stages, from early-stage trainees to seasoned professionals.ASM Case Reports will be a home for papers from around the world, with geographically diverse authors, sharing valuable information around the globe.Case reports are often thought of as manuscripts describing uncommon presenta tions of common conditions, or common presentations of uncommon conditions.While that encapsulates some of our planned scope for ASM Case Reports, we strive to exceed this traditional definition.We welcome case reports describing novel clinical cases, cases illustrating the utility or scope of new diagnostic methods, as well as descriptions of new therapeutics or vaccines in action.We are seeking illustrative cases from both human and veterinary medicine and from every corner of the world.ASM Case Reports will also be home to full-length Case Series articles, Commentaries highlighting and discussing highly impactful or controversial cases, and an Educational Feature that will include not only the Case Report but also additional materials, including a facilitator discussion guide and self-assessment questions.It is anticipated that the

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