ObjectiveTo improve microbial specimen detection rate before therapeutic antimicrobial use.MethodsA system of selective targeted management by clinical department was established, before management was as control group(JulySeptember 2013), after management was as intervention  group(OctoberDecember 2013), microbial specimen detection in patients before antimicrobial use was compared between before and after management.ResultsOf all hospitalized patients, 11 254 received therapeutic antimicrobial agents, 3 426  were sent specimens for microbial detection, the specimen detection rate was 30.44%; specimen detection rate in control and intervention group was  28.80% and 31.89% respectively ，the difference was significant（χ2=12.71，P＜0.05）.3 716 patients(46.61%) received restrained antimicrobial  therapy, and 1 418 (79.20%) received special antimicrobial therapy, compared with control group, the difference were both significant(χ2=32.86,19.31，respectively, both P＜0.05）.ConclusionApplying selective targeted management can improve microbial specimen detection rate before therapeutic use of antimicrobial agents.