#121 – Finding BALANCE in Antibiotic Durations: The BALANCE Trial

#121 – Finding BALANCE in Antibiotic Durations: The BALANCE Trial

Author: Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists September 19, 2025 Duration: 1:09:41

In this second-ever collaboration between SIDP’s Breakpoints and ESCMID’s Communicable podcasts, hosts Erin McCreary and Angela Huttner invite the two principal investigators and visionaries who spearheaded the Bacteremia Antibiotic Length Actually Needed for Clinical Effectiveness (BALANCE) trial, Nick Daneman and Rob Fowler from Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, for a “deep dive into all things that went into this trial.” The BALANCE trial spanned over ten years investigating - as the acronym title suggests - whether a shorter treatment duration of seven days was non-inferior to the standard of care of fourteen days for bacteremia. The conversation covers everything from the initial hallway discussions that sparked the trial, the trial itself that screened over 36,000 patients and enrolled +3,600, its impact on clinical practice, key takeaways, and what’s next for Daneman and Fowler.

References:

  1. BALANCE Investigators, et al. Antibiotic Treatment for 7 versus 14 Days in Patients with Bloodstream Infections. N Engl J Med. 2025 March. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2404991

Hosted by the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists, Breakpoints is a podcast dedicated to the intricate and ever-evolving world of antimicrobial therapy. Each episode delves into the practical challenges and scientific nuances faced by pharmacists on the front lines of patient care, from interpreting susceptibility data and optimizing dosing strategies to navigating the complexities of antimicrobial stewardship. The conversations in this podcast bridge the gap between groundbreaking infectious diseases research and its direct application in clinical settings, offering insights that are both academically rigorous and immediately useful. You’ll hear expert discussions on new resistance patterns, evolving treatment guidelines, and the real-world implementation of life-saving protocols. Designed for healthcare professionals committed to precision medicine, Breakpoints provides a deeper understanding of how to effectively manage infections and improve patient outcomes. Tune in for thoughtful analysis and forward-thinking dialogue that defines the critical role of specialized pharmacists in public health.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Breakpoints
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