Objective To explore the application of diagnosis-related groups(DRGs) index system in the management of healthcare-associated infection(HAI). Methods DRGs-related indexes, including HAI information, DRG grouping, and case mixed index(CMI) of discharged patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital from April to November 2018 were collected, incidence of HAI was adjusted through CMI, incidence of infection in ICU before and after adjustment was compared, DRGs with more infected patients in each ICU was determined, HAI prevention and control measures were put forward. Results Before CMI adjustment, incidence of HAI was the highest in neurosurgical ICU (38.78%) and lowest in neonatal ICU (5.14%); after CMI adjustment, incidence of HAI was the highest in general ICU (12.37%) and lowest in emergency ICU (2.11%). There were 14 DRGs in the top three of discharged patients with HAI in each ICU, accounting for 7.37% of all DRGs; there were 198 cases of HAI in patients in 14 DRGs, accounting for 57.89% of all HAI patients. Conclusion DRGs index system helps to compare and analyze the incidence of different types of HAI as well as HAI in different hospitals, which provides a new idea for HAI management.