Objective To explore the use of antiviral drugs in treating the hospitalized patients of novel influence A(H1N1)in Suzhou city during the 2009-2010 influenza pandemic,so as to make the proper use of antiviral drugs during influenza epidemics.Methods We selected 3municipal hospitals and reviewed the medieal records of hospimlized patients suffered from novel influence A(H1N1)during June 2009 to March 2010,to gather antiviral use and other related information.Results 98%(222/226)of the hospitalized patients received antiviral treatment.Among them,92%(205/222)were given the neuraminidase inhibitor oseitamivir.However,only 18% of the patients who received oseltamivir were given the treatment within 2 days after the onset of the illness.Amantadine and rimantadinc were not used for any of the hospitalized patients.Through interview on the physicians,we identified that delay in seeing care,misdiagnosis,delay in laboratory diagnosis were factors affecting the timely use of oseltamivir.Conclusion The majority of the hospitalized patients suffered from novel influence A(H1N1)in the three municipal hospitals received oseltamivir treatment.However,in most occasions the drug was not used timely.Techniques of rapid detection and diagnosis for novel influenza A(H1N1)virus should be developed,and the diagnostic capabilities of the physicians improved,to increase the effectiveness of these antiviral drugs.