PREDICTORS OF NEONATAL SEPSIS IN PUBLIC REFERRAL HOSPITALS, NORTH WEST ETHIOPIA: A CASE CONTROL STUDY

PONE-D-19-33191

Dear Dr. Tadesse Yirga

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Reviewer #1: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Yes

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Reviewer #1: The authors report on various maternal and neonatal factors associated with the risk of sepsis based on selected crtieria. Their findings are consistent with the literature on this topic, although not confirmed by culture, which is a limitation of the study -- but understandable in the setting of northwest Ethiopia at two referral hospitals. The information may be useful to regional practitioners, but does not add substantially to the literature. Nonetheless, the study is straightforward with a simple design and reasonable statistical analyses. As such, it is deserving of publication because of its relevance to similar settings globally. Perhaps a comment to this effect might signal to readers that, although the findings are generally confirmatory of known risk factors, and limited because of the lack of culture confirmation of sepsis to direct individualized management decisions, they may be helpful to apply in similar settings where resources are limited.

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Reviewer #1: No