Objective To investigate the utility of antibiotics in elderly patients of respiratory department in No. 210 Hospital of PLA, and to understand the rational use of antibiotics in respiratory department. Methods A total of 534 patients >60 in respiratory department of our hospital from September to December in 2011 were randomly selected. The usage rate of antibiotics, the types that used, dosing routes and so on were recorded and analyzed. Some rational suggestions were dis‐cussed put forward. Results ① The usage rate of antibiotics was 97%. ② A total of 21 kinds of antibiotics had been used. The types of drugs are Amp C, levofloxacin, β‐lactamase inhibitors, nitromidazoles, aminoglycoside, antifungals, MALS, lincomycin. The percentage rate of the top three antibiotics were 59. 97%, 17. 30% and 7. 58%. ③ There were some problems in the usage of antibiotics, such as no indication of medicine, high use rate of antibiotics, improper variety selection, dosing routes and drug intervals, irrational use of drugs combinations. Conclusion The application rate of antibiotics was 97%, there was some illegiti‐mate phenomenon in the use of antibiotics. Some attentions should be paid to the rational use of antibiotics in elderly patients, and to raise the rational use rate of antibiotics.