Abstract: Objective To investigate the value of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) via nasal or tracheal cannula in pathogenic diagnosis and drug resistance rate monitoring of pulmonary infection (PI). Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of pathogenic detection and drug resistance rate by bronchoalveolar lavage via nasal or tracheal cannula in patients with PI from 2013 to 2015;the data were analyzed by SPSS 19.0 and WHONET 5 software. Results Total 1 332 patients with pulmonary infection underwent bronchoalveolar lavage by fiberoptic bronchoscopy in 3 years,207 cases via nasal (A group) and 1 125 cases via tracheal cannula (B group),and 84.5% of specimens were in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and neurosurgery ward.The qualification rates were similar in the 2 groups,which were 99.0% and 99.6%,respectively (P>0.05);the pathogenic detecting rate of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were also similar between the 2 groups,with an 85.5% and 86.9%,respectively (P>0.05).The pathogenic distributions were similar except Acinetobacter spp,however,drug resistant rates to most antibiotics were different between the 2 groups (P>0.05). Conclusions Both of transnasal or transtracheal cannula bronchoalveolar lavages are a high value approach in the pathogenic diagnosis and drug resistance monitor of pulmonary infection.