The present study was conducted to investigate the biochemical characteristics and anti-biotic resistance of Escherichia coli(E. coli) isolated from piglets with diarrhea in Kyongbuk province during the Period from February to November 1991. 368 E. coli strains were isolated from 382 piglets with diarrhea and the biochemical and cultural reaction were compared with the classification criteria of Edwards and Ewing. Tetracycline and sulfadimethoxine were found to be highly ineffective at in vitro inhibition of the E. coli of piglets origin. The majority of E. coli were susceptible to amikacin, chloramphenicol and gentamicine. 89 (89.0%) of 100 strains of E. coil were resistant to one or more drugs. The organisms resistant to 20 or 3 drugs were 54(60.6%) of 89 strains, whereas 16(17.9%) strains were found to be resistant to one drug. 55(61.8%) out of 89 drug resistance strains carried R factors($R^+$) which were transfer-able to the recipients by conjugation.