OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pharmacoeconomics of cefathiamidine, ceftriaxone sodium, cefuroxime sodium, amoxicillin sodium/clavulanate potassium and cefoperazone sodium/sulbactam sodium in the treatment of pediatric bronchopneumonia, and to provide reference for rational drug use in the clinic. METHODS: By retrospective study, 338 children with bronchopneumonia were divided into groups A, B, C, D and E according to different therapy regimens. There were 75, 65, 76, 66 and 56 cases in groups A, B, C, D and E, and they were given cefathiamidine, ceftriaxone sodium, cefuroxime sodium, amoxicillin sodium/clavulanate potassium and cefoperazone sodium/sulbactam sodium intravenously. The pharmacoeconomics of therapy regimens in group A, B, C, D and E were evaluated by cost-effectiveness analysis and decision tree analysis model. RESULTS: The effective rates of groups A, B, C, D and E were 93.33%, 90.77%, 96.05%, 87.88% and 87.50%, respectively. The treatment cost of those groups were 1 929.09, 2 173.73, 1 611.91, 1 661.42, 1 801.32 yuan, respectively. The cost/effectiveness (C/E) ratio of those groups were 20.67, 23.95, 16.78, 18.91, 20.59, respectively. The treatment cost of group C was the smallest, so was the C/E. Results of cost-effectiveness analysis were supported by sensitivity analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Cefuroxime sodium is the best treatment for pediatric bronchopneumonia among 5 antibiotics in respect of cost-effectiveness.