Clostridium difficile infections in China☆

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infection has become one of the major hospital-associated infections in Western countries in the last two decades. However, there is limited information on the status of C. difficile infection in Chinese healthcare settings. Given the large and increasing elderly population and the well-recognized problem of over-prescribing of broad spectrum antibiotics in China, it is critical to understand the epidemiology and potential risk factors that may contribute to C. difficile infection in China. A literature review of available published studies, including those in Chinese language-based journals, was conducted. A review of the currently available literature suggested the presence of C. difficile infections in China, but also suggested that these infections were not particularly endemic. This finding should lead to better designed and greatly expanded studies to provide a more reliable epidemiologically-based conclusion on the actual status of C. difficile infection in China, including the identification of any associated risk factors. Such information is ultimately valuable to develop appropriate strategies to prevent C. difficile infection and the vast negative impact of such infections in China and other developing countries.