GRAM-NEGATIVE SEPTICEMIA DIAGNOSED ON PERIPHERAL-BLOOD SMEAR APPEARANCES

Buffy coat smears from febrile patients may contain visible bacteria a nd therefore detect bacteraemia before conventional blood cultures bec ome positive. However, it is unusual to see microorganisms in an other wise untreated peripheral blood smear. The case of a febrile neutropen ic patient is reported. A Wright's stained peripheral blood smear cont ained bacterial elements, thus making earlier diagnosis of septicaemia and identification of the causative bacterium possible.