# Duration of intensive care unit stay as a guide for the timely treatment of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales bloodstream infection: a case-control study

## TL;DR

The study shows that the length of ICU stay can help predict CRE bloodstream infections, aiding in timely treatment decisions.

## Contribution

The study introduces ICU stay duration as a novel predictor for CRE bacteremia with high sensitivity and positive predictive value.

## Key findings

- An ICU stay of ≥8 days predicts CRE bacteremia with 81% sensitivity.
- The same duration has a 96% positive predictive value for CRE infections.

## Abstract

Timely selection of appropriate empirical treatment for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) bacteremia remains challenging, especially when prior antibiotic exposure data is unavailable. We found that intensive care unit stay duration predicts CRE bacteremia—with ≥8 days showing 81% sensitivity and 96% PPV—providing a practical clue for empirical therapy decisions.