Source: European Parliament
The prevalence of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) reported by Romanian hospitals in the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control’s (ECDC) point prevalence surveys (PPS)[1] is indeed low: 2.8% (second lowest) in 2011-2012[2], 3.6% (fourth lowest) in 2016-2017[3], and 3.1% (second lowest) in 2022-2023[4].
Some degree of under-reporting may be possible, as shown by the data on patient case-mix (severity of the clinical condition of hospitalised patients) in the PPS sample from Romania and the results of the validation of this and previous PPS, but the extent of under-reporting cannot be quantified.
The low reported prevalence of HAI can also be partly explained by the very low diagnostic testing in Romanian hospitals (third lowest in 2016-2017 and second lowest in 2022-2023), indicating that some HAI may remain undiagnosed because diagnostic tests are not performed.
In accordance with Article 7(1) of Regulation (EU) 2022/2371[5], Member States must provide a report on their prevention, preparedness and response planning for serious cross-border health threats, which includes their national capacities related to HAI surveillance.
ECDC periodically assesses the Member States’ prevention, preparedness and response planning at national level under Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2022/2371.
Such an assessment[6] is scheduled to take place in Romania in 2026. In any case, the Commission remains in contact with the relevant Romanian authorities.
Based on the information provided by the Member States and the results of the assessments carried out by ECDC, the Commission shall produce a report on the state of play and progress and may support the action of the Member States through general recommendations on prevention, preparedness and response planning.
- [1] https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/search?s=Point+prevalence+survey
- [2] https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/point-prevalence-survey-healthcare-associated-infections-and-antimicrobial-use-0
- [3] https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/point-prevalence-survey-healthcare-associated-infections-and-antimicrobial-use-5
- [4] https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/PPS-HAI-AMR-acute-care-europe-2022-2023
- [5] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2371/oj
- [6] https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/about-ecdc/what-we-do/public-health-emergency-preparedness-assessments