Objective To investigate the pathogen distribution and antibiotic sensitivity of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) from the elderly patients in order to provide references for clinical treatment and scientific use of the antibacterial drugs. Methods A retrospective analysis was carried out on the results of sputum culture of 165 elderly with CAP in the People’s Hospital of Hechuan District from 2012 to 2014. Results Among the 112 totally-isolated strains of bacteria, the leading 5 bacteria were Klebsiella pneumoniae (28 strains, 25.0%), Escherichia coli (17 strains, 15.1%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12 strains, 10.7%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (11 strains, 9.8%), and Haemophilus influenzae (10 strains, 8.9%). The results of drug sensitivity test showed that, K.pneumoniae, E.coli, P. aeruginosa and Str. pneumoniae had good sensitivity to beta lactam/beta lactamase inhibitor and imipenem. But most strains of Stre. pneumoniae were resistant to penicillin. Conclusion Gram-negative bacteria are the main pathogenic bacteria in CAP in the elderly. Empirical selection of antibiotics with beta lactam/beta lactamase inhibitor compound preparation is more appropriate for the treatment.