Background: The use of antibiotics is considered a major determinant of the development of resistance in organisms. This study assessed current patterns of antibiotic prescription and provides background for quality improvement in general hospitals in Hubei, China. Methods: A point-prevalence study was performed in November 2008. All inpatients on the day of the survey were included in the analysis. Results: On the day of the study, 6904 patients (56%) were receiving antibiotic therapy; the highest rate occurred in the ICU (90%), and the lowest occurred in the medical wards (39%). The most commonly used antibiotics were ii-lactam antibiotics, including cephalosporins (40%) and piperacillin (19%), followed by fluoroquinolones (14%). Conclusions: Our data indicated a high rate of antibiotic use in Chinese hospitals. These findings suggest important areas for intervention and the implementation of antibiotic stewardship policies in Chinese hospitals. A multi-faceted strategy should be implemented at the national level in China and should include education, regulation, and greater financial support from the government. (C) 2014 King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences. Published by Elsevier Limited. All rights reserved.