Abstract: OBJECTIVE To investigate the characteristics of pathogens and postoperative nosocomial infection of patients with intestinal obstruction. METHODS A total of 278 patients who underwent surgery for intestinal obstruction from Apr. 2013 to Mar. 2017 were enrolled in this study. The relevant specimens of postoperative incision infection in patients with intestinal obstruction were collected for pathogen analysis. Clinical data such as age, gender, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, and acute physiology and chronic health (APACHE II) scores were analyzed to summarize the factors associated with postoperative nosocomial infection in patients with intestinal obstruction. RESULTS Of the 278 patients, 83 (29.86%) were infected, mainly at the incision site, accounting for 71.08%. The nosocomial infection rate showed a significant downward trend in each year. The nosocomial infection rate was 40.96% in Apr. 2013- Apr. 2014, but only 14.46% in May 2016 - Mar. 2017. 108 strains of pathogens were isolated from the 83 infected patients. 58 strains of gram-negative bacteria accounted for 53.70%, 47 strains of gram-positive bacteria accounted for 43.52%, and 3 strains of fungi accounted for 2.78%. The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age, ASA grade, APACHE-II score, diabetes mellitus, operation time, hospital stay and closed loop intestinal obstruction were the influencing factors of postoperative nosocomial infection in patients with intestinal obstruction (P<0.05). CONCLUSION There are many influencing factors of postoperative nosocomial infection in patients with intestinal obstruction. It is necessary to take specific intervention measures in order to reduce the nosocomial infection rate in patients with intestinal obstruction after operation.