PONE-D-23-36874Diagnosis of Urinary Tract Infections in the Hospitalized Older Adult Population in AlbertaPLOS ONE

Dear Dr. Gibson,

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PLOS ONE

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Reviewers' comments:

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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2. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously?

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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5. Review Comments to the Author

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Reviewer #1: The title of this manuscript is very well chosen and highlights the value of scientific data. The language is correctly used from gramatical point of view. Statistical data are very well processed, having statistical value.

Reviewer #2: General Impression: This publication offers insightful information about the misdiagnosis of urinary tract infections in hospitalized elderly persons. It has a clear introduction, objectives, methodology, results, and conclusions and is well-organized. The study's primary focus is succinctly summed up in the title. A thorough description of the study's design, data gathering procedures, and statistical analysis is given in the Methods section. The statistical analysis section is well-described, outlining the initial exploration, descriptive analysis, and logistic regression modeling. The Results section has a clear, informative organization. The important conclusions of the study are succinctly summarized in the Conclusion section, along with their obvious implications and potential directions for further research. It adds to our understanding of UTI diagnosis in older persons and is in line with the goals of the study. Overall, the manuscript presents a methodologically solid scientific study with evidence to back up its findings. consider these few minor issues:

Minor Issues:

1. Background: Include recent references to emphasize the current relevance of the problem. Most of the references are too old.

2. Chart Review: Indicate whether there were any standards for resolving differences between the reviewer and senior investigators as well as the process used to do so. It would be helpful to provide details on inter-rater reliability or any steps taken to guarantee consistency between senior investigators and the lead reviewer (SL).

3. Statistical analysis (Line 144): Consider providing more details on the specific statistical tests used for initial exploration and descriptive analysis, as this will help readers better understand the analytical approach.

4. Multicollinearity (Line 149):It is mentioned that multicollinearity tests were performed on baseline, admission, and clinical parameters linked to a confirmed diagnosis of UTI. Provide a brief explanation of how multicollinearity was assessed and handled in the analysis.

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Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: No

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Diagnosis of Urinary Tract Infections in the Hospitalized Older Adult Population in Alberta

PONE-D-23-36874R1

Dear Dr. Gibson,

We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements.

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Kind regards,

Seth Agyei Domfeh, PhD

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE