Prolonged empirical antibiotic therapy is correlated with bloodstream infections and increased mortality in a tertiary care hospital in Ethiopia: bacteriology testing matters.

BSI are frequent and fatal among patients with suspected HAI in Ethiopia. Highly resistant blood isolates are alarmingly common. This study provides evidence that investing in systematic blood culture testing in LMICs identifies patients at highest risk of death and that empirical management is frequently inappropriate. Major investments in laboratory development are critical to achieve better outcomes.