 Extensive research has demonstrated that shorter duration antibiotic treatment less or equal to 7 days is as effective as longer duration treatment for a variety of infectious diseases, but this question has not been directly studied in the setting of bloodstream infection. Our teams systematic review of the medical literature, national survey of Canadian infectious diseases and critical care physicians, multicentre retrospective study and BALANCE pilot RCT, all support the need for a randomized controlled trial comparing shorter 7 days versus longer 14 days antibiotic therapy for bloodstream infections. Prior to performing the main trial, we completed a pilot trial to establish the feasibility of the research design, and to optimize the definitive trial. By defining the duration of treatment for bloodstream infections, our research program will help maximize the clinical cure of individual patients, while minimizing their risk of drug side effects, C. difficile, and antibiotic resistance. Since this intervention would require no new technology, and would reduce rather than increase health care costs, it would offer immediate benefits to patients and the healthcare system. 