ObjectiveTo understand microbial contamination and management of medical refrigerators in medical institutions in Hongkou District of Shanghai. MethodsA questionnaire survey was conducted to understand the refrigerator management system of various medical institutions, hygienic sampling on refrigerator surface was performed, bacterial colony forming unit was calculated and microbial species were identified. ResultsA total of 71 medical refrigerators in 71 departments of 13 medical institutions were investigated, tertiary, secondary, first level, and private medical institutions were 30, 21, 10, and 10 sets respectively. Of 71 departments, 63.38%（45/71）established medical refrigerator management system; only 25.35% (18/71) of medical refrigerators used digital temperature control system; 28.17% (20/71) used telephone/short message alarming; in terms of staff training, 49.30% (35/71) of departments conducted refrigerator management training, 15.49% (11/71) didn’t record the operation condition of refrigerators, 80.28% (57/71) regularly disinfected refrigerators. Of 71 medical refrigerators, the total number of colonies on surface of 2 refrigerators exceeded 10 CFU/cm2, which was from clinical laboratory and outpatient pharmacy; 27 refrigerators were isolated fungus, 5 isolated Staphylococcus aureus, and 4 isolated Acinetobacter baumannii; coliform group was not found in all refrigerators. Fungus was isolated on surface of medical refrigerators in pharmacy, laboratory, and general wards, Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii were isolated from surface of refrigerators in pharmacy and general wards, one refrigerator in intensive care unit was detected fungus, and another was detected Staphylococcus aureus. ConclusionManagement of medical refrigerators in medical institutions is not sufficient, perfect management system for different levels, different departments, and different use condition of refrigerators should be formulated, monitoring and recording of temperature should be strengthened, measures and frequency of cleaning and disinfection of medical refrigerators should be clarified.