Background: An imbalance in the vaginal microbiota, often characterized by reduced lactobacilli, paves the way forth for opportunistic bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract. The presence of aerobic bacteria in the genital tract during pregnancy can have negative outcomes on the pregnancy. Peripartum infections, when not adequately managed, can significantly impact maternal and neonatal health. Antimicrobial resistance poses an escalating global health threat, with newborns particularly vulnerable. Methods: This study constitutes a retrospective observational analysis, encompassing all microbial strains isolated from pregnant women admitted to the “Pius Brînzeu” Clinical County Emergency Hospital in Timișoara, Romania for various infectious diseases over one year. We analyzed 274 samples from 246 pregnant women, of which 242 were cervical samples, 23 urine cultures, 3 wound secretions, 3 amniotic fluids, 1 peritoneal cavity fluid, 1 sputum, and 1 hemoculture. Results: In cervical samples, Group B Streptococcus (GBS) was the most prevalent, representing 42.46% of the isolates. E. coli was the second most frequent at 30.16%, followed by K. pneumoniae at 11.9%, S. aureus at 8.73%, C. albicans at 2.78%, and other species at 3.97%. A total of 9.63% of cervical GBS isolates exhibited resistance to penicillin, while 23.36% were identified as multi-drug resistant (MDR). Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and MDR S. aureus strains were identified in 50% and 54.54% of the S. aureus-positive cervical samples, respectively. Conclusions: Recognizing the implications of maternal infection or colonization, especially with antimicrobial resistance bacteria, aids in assessing risks during pregnancy.

Burn injuries are increasingly recognized as chronic conditions with enduring physical, psychological and social consequences that extend beyond acute survival. This narrative review synthesizes and interpretatively discusses recent evidence on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adult burn survivors, focusing on recovery patterns following discharge. Persistent physical sequelae—particularly chronic pain, pruritus, contractures and scarring—remain major determinants of reduced HRQoL, mainly mediated by functional limitation and self-perception. Psychological morbidity is common, with high rates of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, particularly early after injury, although post-traumatic growth may also emerge. Social reintegration, including return to work, is often delayed or incomplete and is influenced by injury severity, mental health status and social support. Recovery trajectories are nonlinear: the greatest improvements occur within the first six months, followed by slower gains up to 18–24 months, after which many patients fail to reach population norms. Pain and psychological symptoms may persist for years. Overall, these findings support a multidisciplinary, longitudinal approach to burn care, emphasizing early risk stratification and rehabilitation to optimize individualized recovery. In this narrative review, we aim to outline the main dimensions of long-term quality of life, with a particular focus on the temporal dynamics of recovery patterns.

Background : Burn injuries are increasingly being recognized as chronic conditions with long-term physical, emotional, and social consequences. As survival after acute burn trauma improves, greater attention has shifted toward health-related quality of life (QoL) in survivors, particularly in regions where data remain limited. Methods: This study included burn survivors treated between January 2022 and December 2023 in the Department of Plastic Surgery and Reconstructive Microsurgery of the Emergency Clinical Hospital “Bagdasar-Arseni,” Bucharest, Romania. Patients who survived hospitalization and follow-up were invited to complete a Romanian-adapted version of the Burn Specific Health Scale-Brief (BSHS-B). Demographic and clinical data were collected from medical records, including burn type, total body surface area (TBSA), burn depth, burn localization, and access to rehabilitation services. Statistical analysis included descriptive methods, chi-square tests, t-tests, Kendall’s tau-b, Cramer’s V, Cronbach’s alpha, and exploratory factor analysis. Results: Thirty-eight patients were included. Most burns were thermal (94.74%), while burns involving <10% TBSA were most frequent (60.53%). Functional outcomes were generally favorable, with most patients reporting no difficulty in basic daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and writing. However, fine motor activities and return to previous work were more frequently affected. Emotional recovery appeared less complete, with persistent mild-to-moderate loneliness, sadness, and emotional distress reported by many participants. Women reported higher levels of loneliness (p = 0.015), while third-degree burns were associated with more frequent depressive symptoms (p = 0.008). Depressive symptoms were also significantly associated with functional limitations (such as getting dressed, p = 0.002) and work impairment (p < 0.001). The adapted functional and emotional subscales showed excellent internal consistency. Conclusions: Post-burn recovery extends beyond physical healing. Although most patients regained functional independence, emotional distress and occupational difficulties often persisted. These findings support the need for multidisciplinary long-term burn care integrating physical rehabilitation, psychological screening, and psychosocial support.