Review for 10.1186/s12876-018-0831-x (2018)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: A practical guide for probiotics applied to the case of antibiotic -associated diarrhea in The 
Netherlands  
 
Version: 0 Date: 23 Dec 2017  
 
Reviewer: Luis Vitetta  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
This is an interesting manuscript and I like to suggest that the authors note the following and 
provide appropriate responses.  
1. When deciding to include the studies that is the 32 out of 128 identified clinical trials did the 
authors check the power of those studies? If so and if they were all sufficiently powered then 
this should be added in the re sults somewhere.  Also add a sentence or two to this effect in 
the methods.  
 
2. Can the authors further clarify as to where the efficacy is in a probiotic product that prevents 
AAD…is efficacy in the formulation or the strains used or both?  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, pl ease specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the d ata 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 recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
  
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscr ipt: 
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may  in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either n ow 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 reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating t o 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 this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing int erests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
My only conflict  of interest is that I carry out research with probiotic bacteria.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors'  
responses.  I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access  Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do  not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments 
to the  editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal