Progress in research of molecular typing of Clostridium difficile

Clostridium difficile is a gram-positive, anaerobicbacteria. Since the outbreak of hypervirulent strain, ribotype 027, occurred in many developed countries, more and more attention has been paid to C. difficile. The incidence of C. difficile infection showed a significant increase worldwide, causing heavy burden for the healthcare facilities of developed countries. Molecular typing is important and essential in the study of C. difficile, which includes restriction endonuclease analysis typing (REA typing), PCR ribotyping, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multiple locus sequence typing (MLST), repetitive-element PCR typing (rep-PCR), multiple locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA), and whole genome sequencing (WGS), and there are some other improved assays used in this field. These assays can facilitate the rapid identification and survey of C. difficile infection outbreak and provide reliable epidemiological evidence for the prevention and control of C. difficile infection.