Research progress of reclassification and virulence factors of Clostridioides difficile

Based on the research of phenotypic characteristics, chemical taxonomy and phylogeny, Clostridium difficile has been classified into the genus Clostridioides and renamed as Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile). In recent years, multi-drug resistant C. difficile infection has caused a significant increase in the number of antibiotic treatment failures and recurrent cases. At present, some European and American countries have established a complete surveillance systems and corresponding clinical diagnosis and treatment guidelines for C. difficile infection, but related works started late in our country. What's more, a large number of non-standardized antibiotic use, even abuse, still exist in clinical treatment in China, resulting in great challenges for the prevention, control, diagnosis and treatment of C. difficile infection. This study aimed to summarize the reclassification of C. difficile and the research progress of its virulence factors in order to provide reference to revise and standardize the name of Clostridioides difficile, promote domestic research of C. difficile and its pathogenic mechanism.