ObjectiveTo assess the effect of healthcareassociated infection (HAI) on hospitalization expense in intensive care unit (ICU) patients.MethodsHospitalization expense of 1 597 ICU patients in a teaching hospital were analyzed, and multiple stepwise regression analysis was used to analyze the meaningful variables, multiple regression equation was established based on the main impact factors of hospitalization expense in ICU patients.ResultsThe average hospitalization expense were 111 116.47 yuan in patients with HAI and 40 383.06 yuan in patients without HAI （Z=-15.477，P=0.000）. According to the stratification of HAI sites,the calculated average hospitalization expense ranged from 56 052.87 to 218 709.77 yuan (χ2=245.872，P=0.000);according to the stratification of primary diseases, the calculated average hospitalization expense ranged from 31 978.79 to 51 125.10 yuan (χ2=63.871，P=0.000). Multiple regression model showed R2=0.538, after multiple stepwise regression analysis, hospitalization expense in patients with HAI increased by 49 812.76 yuan.ConclusionHAI can increase hospitalization expense in ICU patients. Effective measures can prevent and control the occurrence of HAI, and reduce hospitalization expense.