To investigate the distribution and drug resistance of pathogens in intensive care unit (ICU).

Total of 711 specimens from patients in ICU from January to December in 2014 were collected for culture. Identification and antimicrobial susceptibility detection were carried out using BD Phoenix-100 automated microbiology system. The data were analyzed according to CLSI 2013 breakpoints. The differences of drug resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterococcus and Candida between ICU and other departments were analyzed by Chi-square test.

Total of 363 (51.05%) sputum samples, 202 (28.41%) blood samples, 90 (12.66%) urine samples and 56 (7.88%) other samples were collected. Among the 475 clinical isolates, 134 strains of Acinetobacter baumannii (28.21%) were detected, which was the most common Gram-negative bacterium, 22 strains of Enterococcus faecium (4.63%) were detected, which was the most common gram-positive bacterium, and 67 strains of fungi (14.11%) were detected. Acinetobacter baumannii detected from ICU was absolutely susceptible to polymyxin, which had higher resistant rates to most antibiotics than isolates from other departments (all P < 0.001). Enterococcus was absolutely susceptible to linezoid, teicoplanin and vancomycin, which had higher resistant rates to most antibiotics and had no significant difference compared with isolates form other departments. The fungus was absolutely susceptible to amphotericin and had higher resistant rates to voriconazole and fluconazole than isolates from other departments (all P < 0.001).

The detection rates of non-fermentative bacteria and fungi from ICU patients were high. The antibiotics resistance of several pathogens from ICU was more serious than that from other departments. So monitoring of distribution and drug resistance of pathogens should be strengthened and antibiotics should be used rationally in order to reduce the development and spread of drug-resistant bacteria.