ObjectiveTo investigate the distribution and drug resistance of the pathogens isolated from hospitalized pediatric patients with respiratory tract infections, and to provide guidance for empiric therapy. MethodsRespiratory tract specimens from hospitalized pediatric patients with respiratory tract infections from 2011 to 2015 were collected, and the strains were identified and the drug susceptibility was tested. ResultsA total of 1995 strains of pathogens, 1281 (64.21%) from boys and 714 (35.79%) from girls, were isolated from 6236 specimens and the detection rate was 31.99%. The mean age of the hospitalized pediatric patients was (1.22±2.05) years (ranged from 1 day to 14 years). 1393 (69.82%) pediatric patients were younger than 1 year. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Candida albicans and Acinetobacter baumannii ranked the top five species, accounting for 29.82%, 15.09%, 13.18%, 12.73% and 5.91%, respectively. 1995 strains included gram-negative bacteria (50.93%), gram-positive bacteria (35.29%), and fungi (13.78%). The resistance rate of Staphylococcus aureus to oxacillin was 31.76%, but it was 100% sensitive to vancomycin and linezolid. The resistant rate of gram-negative bacteria to imipenem was ranged from 1.52% to 5.93%. The resistant rate of gram-negative bacteria to ceftazidime, cefepime, piperacillin tazobactam and tobramycin was less than 30.00%. ConclusionsThe infants whose age are younger than 1 year comprise the majority of the hospitalized pediatric patients with respiratory tract infections. The proportion of male is more than that of female. Staphylococcus aureus and enterobacteriaceae were the main isolated pathogens. There is difference in drug resistance between different pathogens, so antibiotics should be chosen according to the results of drug sensitivity testing.