7 Days Noninferior in Bacteremia - Takeaways - MDSpire
From the Journals

7 Days Noninferior in Bacteremia

BALANCE compared 7 vs 14 days of treatment among hospitalized patients with bloodstream infections.

  • By

  • Kathryn Wighton

  • May 12, 2026

  • 5 min

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  • 1

    7-day antibiotic treatment was noninferior to 14 days in 90-day mortality.

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    Conducted in 74 hospitals with 3,608 patients.

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    Common sources of infections included urinary tract and lung.

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    15% mortality in the 7-day group vs. 16% in the 14-day group.

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    Supports antibiotic stewardship efforts.

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    Excluded severe immunocompromised patients and certain infections.

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    Highlights need for further research on individualized treatment durations.

Original Source(s)

7 Days Noninferior in Bacteremia

  • by Kathryn Wighton

  • May 12, 2026

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