Objective · To analyze changes in the type distribution and drug resistance of pathogenic bacteria isolated from burn wards and to provide evidence for rational use of antibiotics, reduction of drug-resistant isolates, and hospital infection control. Methods · Isolates from burn patients were collected from January 2011 to December 2014. Statistical analysis of infection sources, type distribution, and changes in resistance rates of main pathogens during the four year period was performed. Results · A total of 2 399 isolates were collected, including 1 286 (53.61%) gram-negative bacilli (G-b), 1 088 (45.35%) gram-positive cocci (G+c), and 25 (1.04%) fungi. The most common G-b pathogens were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (447, 34.76%) and Acinetobacter baumannii (369, 28.69%). The most common G+c pathogen and fungus were Staphylococcus aureus (489, 44.94%) and Candida albicans (8, 33.33%), respectively. In the last two years, the detection rates of S.aureus and A.baumannii were significantly lower and the detection rate of P.aeruginosa was significantly higher than those in the first two years (P<0.05). P.aeruginosa and A.baumannii showed high resistance (>80%) to the third and fourth generation cephalosporins, carbapenems, aminoglycosides and quinolones, but the changes were not statistically significant (P>0.05). S.aureus was only highly resistant to penicillin (97.58%) and was 100% susceptible to vancomycin. Its resistance rates toward cefazolin, ampicillin/sulbactam, gentamicin, levofloxacin, and rifampin decreased significantly (P<0.05). The detection rate of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) dropped from 72.28% to 63.00%. Conclusion · Many types of drug resistant bacteria were detected in burn wards. The drug resistance problem was serious. Improving management and rational use of antibiotics can reduce the occurrence of drug-resistant bacteria and increase the efficacy of clinical anti-infective treatment and nosocomial infection control.