This study aimed to understand the magnitude and characteristics of infectious diseases among patients admitted to the internal medicine ward of a Portuguese hospital over one month. A total of 25 out of 73 patients admitted during the study period had infectious diseases, representing 41 infectious episodes. The most common infections were urinary tract infections (44%) and pneumonia (29%). The majority (83%) of cultures grew pathogens, most commonly E. coli (21%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (11%), and fungi (11%). Infections increased patient mortality by 10% and length of stay by 3.5 days compared to other patients. Pressure ulcers accounted for 12% of infections and were all hospital-acquired. Empiric antibiotic therapy was ineffective in