Analysis Group Researchers Leveraged Mass General Brigham Data to Investigate When Hospitalized Patients with Complicated UTIs are Clinically Ready for Discharge

April 24, 2026

Patients with complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) caused by highly resistant organisms often require intravenous (IV) antibiotics such as carbapenems, which are most frequently administered at the hospital. In many cases, patients must remain hospitalized until they complete the full course of treatment, even when they are otherwise deemed clinically ready for discharge (CRFD). These extended stays can increase health care costs, raise the risk of hospital-acquired infections, and affect patients’ quality of life.

An Analysis Group team – led by Managing Principal Mei Sheng Duh, Vice President Rose Chang, and Manager Louise Yu – collaborated with researchers from GlaxoSmithKline and Mass General Brigham (MGB), including Dr. Shawn Murphy, Dr. Serena Koenig, Dr. Grace Hsieh, and members of the HIRO Data Science and Analytics team, on a real-world study that developed and applied a clinically relevant, rule-based definition of CFRD in patients with cUTIs.

The researchers leveraged electronic health record data from the MGB Research Patient Data Registry, which contains detailed clinical information and provider notes from eight Harvard-affiliated hospitals. CRFD was defined using indicators such as temperature, lab results, pain, urinary symptoms, and overall clinical stability to identify when a patient is well enough to leave the hospital.

Applying this definition, the team found that between 35 to 60% of patients hospitalized for cUTIs and treated with IV carbapenems remained hospitalized longer than was clinically necessary, for an average of three days, likely to complete the course of IV antibiotic treatment. The researchers conclude that their findings highlight the unmet need for new, safe, and effective oral antibiotic treatments that may enable outpatient management, shorten hospital stays, and improve patient experiences for patients with cUTIs caused by highly resistant organisms.

The study, funded by GlaxoSmithKline, was presented at the International Conference on Pharmacoepidemiology and at IDWeek 2025.