Objective To offer reference for the proper use of antibiotics by exploring the features of use of antibiotics in the hospitalized patients staying in the department of nephrology. Methods The data on 1 000 discharged patients who had been hospitalized in our department were retrospectively investigated and the use of antibiotics was analyzed. Results Of 1 000 patients, 876 (87.6%) received antibiotic treatment. 639 of the 876 patients (72.9%) were received single-antibiotic therapy while 237 (27.1%) received two antibiotic agents. 69.2% of the antibiotics were used for treatment and 30.8% for prevention. 89.3% of the patients received prophylactic antibiotics for 3 days or less while 10.7% used antibiotics for more than 3 days. The rate of prophylactic use of antibiotics 0.5 to 1 hour before surgery was lower. The administration route of antibiotics was applied in 100% of the patients. Conclusions The use of antibiotic is basically appropriate in this study. The rate of prophylactic use of antibiotics is higher in the hospitalized patients staying in the department of nephrology. Further studies should be conducted on the exact timing of prophylactic use of antibiotics and whether oral antibiotics can replace intravenous antibiotics for the prevention of postoperative infection.