In 1994, 171 (27%) of all positive blood cultures in our hospital were due to Acinetobacter species. Of these, 138 cultures were considered significant, 91 (66%) were community-acquired and 47 (34%) were nosocomial. Most acinetobacter bacteraemia in children [les ]1 year old was community-acquired, while nosocomial infection was more common in children >1 year old (P=0·01). Most children [les ]5 years old were severely malnourished. The incidence of bacteraemia was lowest during the post-monsoon to early winter months. Acinetobacter bacteraemia associated mortality was twice (16%) that of all other patients (7·7%, P < 0·0005) and accounted for 4·5% of all hospital deaths during the study period. Bacteraemia caused by Acinetobacter species is an important cause of morbidity and mortality among our patient population with diarrhoeal disease.