1. Abstracts may be submitted online only. Abstracts submitted via fax or email will not be accepted.

2. All abstracts must be submitted and presented in English using UK English spelling.

3. Abstracts must contain original material neither published nor presented elsewhere prior to 9 April 2016.

4. Please use the abstract template and structure your abstract using the following headings:

Background
Materials/methods
Results
Conclusion

Text: The text shall be formatted in Arial font size 10.

Tables: Authors can include a maximum of 1 table (of up to 10 rows x 10 columns) per abstract. Words within the table count into the total of the maximum words allowed.

Pictures/Graphs: Authors can include a maximum of 1 picture/graph.

5. Abstract titles must be submitted according to the general rules stated under point 7. This includes any special characters and special words that need to be capitalized or in italics. Abstract titles will be proofread.

6. The abstract text may not be longer than maximum 450 words.

7. Spelling Guidelines: The International System of Units (SI) should be used wherever appropriate. Genus and species names should be written in full on first mention and then abbreviated on subsequent mention.

         The following general rules apply (examples in brackets):

• Systematic names (genus, family and higher orders): capitalized (Chlamydia, Enterobacteriaceae, Picornaviridae).
• Non-English expressions: non-English expressions in English texts are written in italics, e.g. force majeure, in vitro/in vivo, ad hoc, ex officio
• Taxonomic names: are to be italicized, e.g. Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium difficile.
• Non-systematic names (e.g. plural): lower case (Group A streptococci, mycobacteria, chlamydiae).
• Generic drug names: lower case (penicillin).
• Avoid using brand names; if needed: capitalized with trademark symbol (Rocephin®).
• Diseases and viruses: lower case (hepatitis, herpes zoster, herpesvirus, West Nile virus).
• Please observe standard English grammar rules including a space after full stops and commas.
• Only common abbreviations can be used without definition.

Abstract Topics

8. For the latebreaker abstracts, the categories for submission have been reduced as follows:

• Refugee and migrant health
• Emerging colistin resistance
• Other

Guidelines for Authors

9. The following presentation type possibilities are available:

1 Oral Presentations

The programme will feature two types of oral presentation sessions: 1-hour (5 speakers; 12 minutes per speaker including discussion) and 2-hour (10 speakers; 12 minutes per speaker including discussion). These sessions are put together by the Programme Committee from the best scored abstracts. This is the highest category of an abstract presentation. These sessions are chaired by two experts of the field.

2 ePoster Mini Oral Presentations

The ePoster Mini Oral Sessions will be held as 1-hour sessions in parallel to the paper poster presentations.  Each session will have 10 speakers with each 6 minutes presentation time including discussion. All ePosters must be submitted in advance to the congress and will be displayed on ePoster terminals all around the congress venue. Some of these terminals will have microphones and loudspeakers as well as a presentation mode with a countdown of the 6 minutes term. These sessions are moderated by an expert of the field. All ePosters including those selected for an ePoster Mini Oral presentation will be shown on all 4 congress days on all ePoster terminals as well as in the Online Lecture Library of ESCMID.

3 Paper Poster Presentation

Most of the accepted abstracts are scheduled for paper poster presentation. The paper posters are displayed in the poster area of the congress and the presentations are split in ~6 sessions with a poster change each day.  Each poster session will feature various topics and has a duration of one hour. The poster presenter is requested to be at her/his poster during the presentation time. All paper posters can be submitted also as an ePoster to be shown on all 4 congress days on all ePoster terminals as well as in the Online Lecture Library of ESCMID.

4 ePoster Viewing

The ePoster Viewing replaces the former Publication Only presentation type. The ePoster Viewing is being divided in a number of abstract themes. All ePosters will be shown on all 4 congress days on all ePoster terminals as well as in the Online Lecture Library of ESCMID.

10.  Authors are asked to enter 3 keywords to better define the abstract content.

11. You can save your abstract at any time. Please make sure to have all complete before you finally submit your abstract. You will receive a confirmation by email after the submission of your abstract (please make sure to state your correct email address!). Changes are not possible after submission.

12. Abstracts will be subject to a blind peer review by at least 3 members of the Programme Committee and external experts.