In 2023, the share of corresponding/leading authors in scientific publications on infectious diseases in Italy stood at 92.70%. From 2024 onwards, a steady increase is forecasted, with figures rising slightly each year to reach 92.83% by 2028. Year-on-year variations are minimal, indicating stability in the authorship patterns, with less than a 0.05% increase annually over the observed period. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the five years is approximately 0.02%, suggesting little change.

Future trends to watch for:

Potential impact of collaborative international research initiatives, which could alter authorship patterns.
The influence of open-access publishing and digital platforms on the proportion of leadership roles in publications.
Shifts in funding and research priorities that may affect publication dynamics in infectious diseases.