This study aims to document the microbial profile and pattern of use of antibiotics in the government hospital of Penang state, Malaysia. A retrospective study was conducted in 2007 in the general medical ward of Hospital Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. The mortality rate was 54.22% with severe sepsis or septicemia. Mithicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus caused 37% of deaths, while 33% of deaths involved Klebsiella Spp. Commonly prescribed antibiotics included; cloxacillin 500mg (qid) 20%, tazocin 2gm (bid) 1.1%, and  vancomycin 1gm (od) 27%. We report the use of high doses of antibiotics in the six months prior to a notable rise in resistant infections.