Abstract: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 communityassociated STI group(CASTI) and healthcareassociated STI(HASTI) 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 CASTI group and 67 in HASTI group. 16 kinds of bacteria were isolated. 98 cases of CASTI were single bacterial infection, 92 of which were grampositive bacteria, mainly Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus, n=85, 86.7%) and Streptococcus pyogenes (n=4, 4.08%); 6 strains were gramnegative bacteria, mainly Escherichia coli(E. coli, n=3, 3.06%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae(n=2, 2.04%). 67 cases were HASTI, 5 cases were mixed infection with two kinds of bacteria, 72 strains of bacteria were isolated, 13 were grampositive bacteria strains, mainly S. aureus (n=9, 12.50%);59 were gramnegative 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 methicillinresistant 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%, imipenemresistant E. coli and P. aeruginosa were not found. ConclusionS. aureus is the main pathogen causing CASTI in children; the main pathogens of HASTI are E. coli, P. aeruginosa, E. cloacae, and other gramnegative bacteria. Children with STI can choose antimicrobial agents according to types of infection before pathogens are identified.