A Platform Trial for Gram Negative Bloodstream Infections

To be considered for the BALANCE+ study, you would generally need to be in a participating hospital and have a confirmed Gram-negative bacterial infection in your blood. However, this study might not be suitable for everyone.

You wouldn't be able to join if your care is focused on comfort rather than active treatment, or if doctors don't expect you to survive for more than 72 hours. Also, if you've been part of this study before, or if there's a specific reason why none of the study's treatment options would work for you, then you wouldn't be eligible.

Beyond these general rules, each specific part of the study (what we call a 'domain') has its own eligibility checks. For example, if you're in a part of the study looking at switching from IV to oral antibiotics, there might be specific requirements about the timing of your treatment or if certain medications would conflict with others.

If you join the BALANCE+ study, you'll continue to receive care for your bloodstream infection, but the doctors might use one of the specific treatment approaches being tested. For example, they might try a different type of antibiotic, decide whether to switch you to oral antibiotics at a particular time, or choose a certain way to manage your central line (a special IV tube).

The treatments you receive will be part of your routine hospital care, but the study will help doctors decide which treatment is best for you based on the research questions. You won't have extra visits just for the study, as it's designed to fit into your normal hospital stay. Doctors will collect information about your health and how you respond to treatment, which involves looking at your medical records and test results. Your participation will last as long as you're receiving care for your infection under the study's guidance. You can ask to leave the study at any time.