The use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for the treatment of HIV 
infection has been associated with a marked reduction in the incidence of most 
opportunistic infections. From April 2001 to February 2002, 80 blood samples 
from patients who were suspected to have disseminated mycobacterial infection, 
presenting fever and (preferably) a CD4 T cell count < 100.0 cell/mL were 
investigated. Twelve (15%) of the 80 blood cultures were positive for 
mycobacteria, with Mycobacterium avium being identified in 7 (8.8%) samples and 
M. tuberculosis in 5 (6.2%). The TCD4+ count at the time of M. avium bacteremia 
ranged from 7 cells/microL (average of 48.5 cell/microL), while in M. 
tuberculosis bacteremia it ranged from 50.0 cells/microL (average of 80.0 
cell/microL). The prevalence of M. avium bacteremia in our study follows the 
expected decline in opportunistic infections observed after the introduction of 
HAART; however, mycobacteremia by M. tuberculosis still indicates a high 
prevalence of tuberculosis infection in AIDS patients.