Abstract: Objective To investigate the pathogens and resistance of stroke-associated lower respiratory tract infection in elderly patients. Methods All the clinical isolates from sputum were analyzed retrospectively. Results There were 51 (79.7%) strains of Gram-negative bacilli, 11 (17.2%) strains of Gram-positive bacteria and 2 (3.1%) strains of fungi. The most important Gram-negative pathogens were Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Alcaligenes, Klebsiella, Acinetobacter baumanii, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Strains of Gram-negative bacteria were susceptible to imipenem, ceftazidime and amikacin, all strains of Gram-positive pathogens were susceptible to norvancomycin. Conclusion Gram-negative bacilli are the major pathogens in stroke-associated lower respiratory tract infection in elderly patients and the dominant is conditional pathogen.

Key words: elder, stroke, stroke-associated lower respiratory tract infection, pathogen, drug resistance