Abstract: Objective To evaluate the utilization of antibacterial drugs and their adverse effects in patients admitted for respiratory disease based on medical record review. Methods The medical records of 141 inpatients admitted in 2002 for respiratory diseases were reviewed. The drug utilization index(DUI) and daily cost of antibacterial drugs were calculated, with also assessment of the adverse effects in relation to the drug use. Results The DUI ranged from 0.9 to 1.1 in 66.7% of the patients, and the daily cost of the antibacterial drugs was 317.8±194.3 RMB, with a total of 14 cases with adverse drug effects recorded. Conclusions The utilization of antibacterial drugs was basically adequate in Nanfang Hospital though with occasional abuse of cefoperazone and sulbactam, inappropriate combination and high cost of the antibacterial drugs. More careful application of these drugs in old patients is stressed.