Diagnosis of Mycobacterium bacteremia in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome by direct examination of blood films.

Thirty acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients with mycobacterial bacteremia documented by Du Pont Isolator (Du Pont Co., Wilmington, Del.) blood cultures underwent microscopic examination of buffy coat blood smears. Of 30 patients, 14 were culture positive for Mycobacterium avium-Mycobacterium intracellulare complex and 1 was positive for M. tuberculosis. Of 15 culture-positive patients, 13 had identifiable organisms on Kinyoun- or auramine-stained direct blood smears.