Review for 10.1186/s12876-020-01201-6 (2020)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Use of microbiological and patient data for choice of empiri cal antibiotic therapy in acute 
cholangitis  
 
Version: 0 Date: 04 Jan 2020  
 
Reviewer: Harumi – Gomi  
 
Reviewer's report:  
This is a retrospective observational study to identify the specific patient factors in selecting 
appropriate antimicrobial agents for patients with acute cholangitis.  
 
There are minor points for improvement.  
 
1. Page 10, line 13, in the Tokyo Guidelines 2018 (TG 18), the healthcare -associated acute 
cholangitis section is provided where the enterococcus coverage is recommended. Please clarify 
this. 
2. Page 10, line 24, "inacceptably" needs to be corrected as "unaccep tably."  
3. In the discussion section, the limitations of utilization of TG 18 in selecting antimicrobial 
agents for patients with acute cholangitis can be elaborated more.  
 
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which co ntrols are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recom mend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please speci fy what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I recommend additional statistical review  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in t he past five years received reimbursements, f ees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financial ly from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisat ion that may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents  relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursemen ts, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to t his paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have  no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
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I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal