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Albumin infusion has been recommended for patients with cirrhosis who are hospitalized with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) since it was shown to reduce hepatorenal syndrome and improve survival in this population (N Engl J Med 1999; 341:403). Would patients with cirrhosis and bacterial infections other than SBP also benefit from albumin infusion?
To find out, investigators in Spain conducted a randomized, controlled trial involving 110 patients with cirrhosis who were hospitalized with non-SBP bacterial infections (mainly pneumonia or urinary-tract infection) who received either intravenous albumin (1.5 g/kg on day 1 and 1.0 g/kg on day 3) plus standard antibiotic therapy (albumin group) or standard antibiotic therapy alone (control…