OBJECTIVE: To study the risk factors associated with infection by extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing (ESBLs) bacteria in children. METHODS:Clinical data of 29 cases of infection by positive-ESBLs bacteria was studied retrospectively. Eighty-nine cases of negative-ESBLs bacteria served as the controls. Non-conditional logistic regression analysis was used to analyze potential risk factors. RESULTS: Multiple-factors non-conditional logistic regression analysis showed that age, combined application of antibiotics, intubation, use of immuno-suppressive drugs and the times of hospitalization in the three months preceding the infection were the independent risk factors for infection by positive-ESBLs bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: Risk for infection by positive-ESBLs bacteria is multifactorial. It is important to reasonably use antibiotics and immuno-suppressive drugs, reduce invasive intubation, and stress the asepsis principle so as to decrease the incidence of infection by positive-ESBLs bacteria.