A Perspective on the Principles of Integrity in Infectious Disease Research

The medical literature is prone to overstating results, a condition not thoroughly recognized among policymakers. This article sets forth examples of potential problemswith research integrity in the infectious disease literature. We describe articles that may be spun, categories lumped together in hopes of creating a significant effect (and sometimes an insignificant one), changes in metrics, and how trials may fail because of suboptimal interventions. Whenexaminedtogether, the examples showthat theproblemsarewidespread and illustrate the difficulty associated with interpreting medical research. The state of the currentmedical literature makes it of utmost importance that all sections of themanuscript are read, including associated letters to the editorsandinformationonClinicalTrials. govbeforeauthors'recommendations are accepted.