ObjectiveTo understand the development situation of healthcareassociated infection (HAI) management departments in the rational antimicrobial application and management in hospitals in China. MethodsA total of 166 hospitals from 12 provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions, and military hospitals were selected for survey, the participation of HAI management departments in the rational clinical antimicrobial application and management in different years was compared. ResultsOf 166 hospitals,  68（40.96%） in 2005， 119（71.69%） in 2010，and 160（96.39%） in 2015 participated in the establishment of management organizations for rational antimicrobial application (χ2=121.143, P＜0.001). The percentage of HAI management departments participating in antimicrobial management increased from  10.24%（n=17） in 2005 to 22.29%（n=37）in 2010, and 31.33%（n=52）in 2015(χ2=22.172, P＜0.001). The percentages of HAI management departments participating in formulating catalogues for antimicrobial varieties and classification, stipulating permission for antimicrobial use, joining antimicrobial management teams, monitoring bacterial resistance, managing antimicrobial prophylaxis in clean incision, supervising clinical antimicrobial use, conducting clinical consultation, and evaluating prescription were 10.87%-30.72% in 2005，25.90%-65.06% in 2010，and 36.14%-95.18%  in  2015 (all P＜0.01）. Intensity of antimicrobial use ( defined daily dose /100 beddays,DDD / 100 beddays) decreased from 69.16 in 2005 to 41.40 in 2015，antimicrobial usage rate decreased from 46.98% in 2005 to 36.90% in 2015，among patients  receiving therapeutic antimicrobial use, specimens sending for pathogenic detection increased from 20.58% in 2005 to 49.39% in 2015. ConclusionDepartments of HAI management in China play important role in management of rational antimicrobial application.