Keywords: 
• infectious diseases /
• antibiotics /
• defined daily dose /
• empiric therapy

Abstract: Objective :To investigate the characteristics of antibiotic drug use in the respiratory department of a large general hospital for the clinical therapy. Methods :A retrospective cohort study was conducted on the infection patients from Jan.2003 to Dec.2007 in the respiratory department of Chinese PLA general hospital.The change of the infectious disease distribution,the antibiotics consumption,and the relation between disease and drug consumption were analyzed. Results :(1) The lower respiratory tract infection was the major disease in the patients of the respiratory department.(2) The antibiotics of the consumption in respiratory department were Cephalosporin/β-lactamase inhibitors,Pennicllins /β-lactamase inhibitors in sequence,and the Carbapenem and polypeptide antibiotics remained at a relatively low level.(3) The defined daily doses of antibiotics were different between the lower and upper respiratory tract infection.(4)The drug utilization index of amoxicillin group antibiotics was increased year by year and no significant change was found in other kinds of antibiotics. Conclusion :Significant changes were found in the antibiotics use among the patients within respirator department of this large general hospital,and that should be paid more attention in the clinical work.