Abstract:

In recent years, with the dramatic changes in the epidemiology of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) as well as increases in incidence and severity of the disease, CDI has become a global public health challenge. There have been several outbreaks of CDI in North America and Europe and Clostridium difficile has also become an important pathogenic cause of nosocomial infection in Asia. However, the awareness and surveillance of CDI still remain poor in China. A better knowledge of the epidemiology of CDI and antimicrobial resistance of Clostridium difficile can provide the basis for the prevention and treatment of CDI. This paper reviews the epidemiology and research progresses of resistance mechanism of CDI.

Key words: Clostridium difficile, epidemiology, resistance mechanisms, virulence factors