Review for 10.1186/s12876-020-01473-y (2020)

Reviewer’s report
Title:  Infection deteriorating hepatitis B virus related acute-on-chronic liver failure: a retrospective
cohort study
Version: 0 Date: 10 Aug 2020
Reviewer: Khaled Farid
Reviewer's report:
Interesting report. Authors investigated the characteristics of infection and its influence on mortality in
HBV-ACLF through a retrospective cohort study.
Generally, language and grammar should be revised. 
Abstract:
Results reported in line 42, 43 are repeated in line 45
It is "septic shock" not "sepsis shock" and repeated many times.
The statement in line 47, 48 should precede that in line 46.
Line 51, the statement "the increased incidence of …needs revision…which coms first?
Methods:
Spell out abbreviation when used for the first time as PLA, CLIF-OF, CANONIC ….
Is HBV-DNA measured in all participants?? 
 Page 6; line 136, "fever" is better than "febricity".
Page 7; line 154, definition of septic shock should be clarified.
Results:
Age (mean ± SD) is typically the same in both groups???
Table 3 should come before table 2 as described in the text.
28-day mortality is not recorded in table 2 as described in the text for number of infection sites and
number of strains.
Discussion:
Discussion should be started by a short introduction about the topic.
Results need to be discussed in greater details.
Page 12;
Line 285, is pneumonia a type of infection or an infection related indicator….revise your results.
Line 288, show how findings in other research are consistent with your finding.
Line 292, how previous studies agree with your findings?
Line 302, what did Fernandez et al found.
Page 13;
Line 304-306, explain what a recent study found?
Line 319-321, give examples from your study and the other two references to confirm this statement.
Line 323, 324, how Zang et al consider AKI a risk factor for short-term mortality in patients with
ACLF??
Limitations of this study also include neglecting the HBV treatment status and the relation of HBV load
to infection.
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Is the study design appropriate to answer the research question (including the use of appropriate
controls), and are the conclusions supported by the evidence presented?
Yes
Are the methods sufficiently described to allow the study to be repeated?
Yes
Is the use of statistics and treatment of uncertainties appropriate?
Yes
Is the presentation of the work clear?
Yes
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manipulation?
Yes