ObjectiveTo understand the characteristics and risk factors of healthcareassociated infection(HAI) in hospitalized children in a children’s hospital, so as to provide reference for prevention and control of HAI. MethodsClinical data of all hospitalized children in this hospital between January 1 and December 31, 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. ResultsA total of 22 458 hospitalized children were investigated, 14 494（64.54%）were male children，and 7 964（35.46%）were female children；294 cases of HAI occurred, HAI rate was 1.31%(male 1.16%， female 1.58%)；the top three underlying diseases in children with infection were leukemia（5.78%）, other malignant tumors（4.01%）, and urinary system diseases（3.40%）; the major infection sites were upper respiratory tract (33.22%), gastrointestinal tract (24.67%),  and lower respiratory tract (23.03%). Univariate analysis showed that risk factors for HAI in male and female children were age ≤3 years old, length of hospital stay >7 days, stay in intensive care unit/ neonatal intensive care unit, being rescued, and antimicrobial use (all P<0.01). Multivariate nonconditional logistic regression analysis showed that independent risk factors for HAI in male children were length of hospital stay>7 days, onset of disease in spring and winter season, being rescued, and antimicrobial use; independent risk factors for HAI in female children were age≤3 years old, length of hospital stay＞7 days, underwent surgery / invasive operation, and antimicrobial use. ConclusionHAI rate in the children’s hospital is low, and there are gender differences, HAI control system can be established according to the different clinical features of children.