ObjectiveTo explore distribution and antimicrobial resistance of pathogens causing soft tissue infection (STI) in children. MethodsChildren with STI and had positive bacterial culture in a hospital between January 2010 and January 2017 were analyzed, they were divided into communityassociated STI group(CASTI) and healthcareassociated STI(HASTI) group, pathogens and antimicrobial resistance of pathogens causing STI were analyzed. ResultsA total of 165 STI patients were with positive bacterial culture. There were 98 cases in CASTI group and 67 in HASTI group. 16 kinds of bacteria were isolated. 98 cases of CASTI were single bacterial infection, 92 of which were grampositive bacteria, mainly Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus, n=85, 86.7%) and Streptococcus pyogenes (n=4, 4.08%); 6 strains were gramnegative bacteria, mainly Escherichia coli(E. coli, n=3, 3.06%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae(n=2, 2.04%). 67 cases were HASTI, 5 cases were mixed infection with two kinds of bacteria, 72 strains of bacteria were isolated, 13 were grampositive bacteria strains, mainly S. aureus (n=9, 12.50%）；59 were gramnegative bacteria, mainly E. coli (n=21, 29.17%）, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa, n=15, 20.83%), and Enterobacter cloacae(E. cloacae, n=13, 18.06%). Resistance rates of S. aureus to penicillin, erythromycin, and lincomycin were all＞50%，resistance rates to gentamicin, compound sulfamethoxazole, and rifampicin were all ＜20%，isolation rate of methicillinresistant S. aureus (MRSA) was 43.62%, strains were all sensitive to vancomycin, linezolid, tigecycline, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and nitrofurantoin. Resistance rates of E. coli to cefuroxime and sulfamethoxazole were all ＞70%，resistance rates to piperacillin, cefepime, and levofloxacin were all ＜30%, imipenemresistant E. coli and P. aeruginosa were not found. ConclusionS. aureus is the main pathogen causing CASTI in children; the main pathogens of HASTI are E. coli, P. aeruginosa, E. cloacae, and other gramnegative bacteria. Children with STI can choose antimicrobial agents according to types of infection before pathogens are identified.