Background: Congenital infections included in the TORCH complex remain an important cause of fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, being associated with miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, congenital malformations, neurological impairment, and long-term developmental sequelae. Prenatal serological screening may contribute to the early identification of maternal infections and facilitate preventive and therapeutic interventions. However, data regarding the utilization of TORCH screening and associated socio-demographic determinants in Romania remain limited. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the self-reported uptake of prenatal serological testing for one or more infections included in the TORCH complex, particularly Toxoplasma gondii, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), and syphilis, and to identify socio-demographic, obstetrical, and prenatal care-related factors associated with TORCH testing among pregnant women in Romania. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted using an online self-administered questionnaire completed by 1301 pregnant women from Romania. Data collection was performed between August 2022 and March 2023 through digital platforms, including social media and pregnancy-related forums. The primary outcome was self-reported performance of serological testing for at least one TORCH-related infection during pregnancy. Associations between explanatory variables and TORCH testing were evaluated using chi-square tests and multivariable binary logistic regression models. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated. Results: Overall, 75.6% of participants reported undergoing serological testing for at least one infection included in the TORCH complex during pregnancy, while 49.3% reported a complete TORCH panel. The most frequently reported investigations were for Toxoplasma gondii (92.8%) and rubella virus (89.9%), whereas HSV testing was less commonly reported (42.5%). Lower educational level was the strongest independent factor associated with reduced likelihood of TORCH testing (adjusted OR = 0.08; 95% CI: 0.03–0.19; p < 0.001) (adjusted OR—aOR). Unemployment status (aOR = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.50–0.99; p = 0.045) and multiparity (aOR = 0.62; 95% CI: 0.49–0.77; p < 0.001) were also associated with lower testing uptake. In contrast, participation in prenatal education programs was associated with increased likelihood of TORCH testing (aOR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.04–1.80; p = 0.024). The number of prenatal consultations was not independently associated with testing uptake. Conclusions: The uptake of prenatal serological screening for congenital infections (assessed using an expanded Romanian panel that includes hepatitis B and HIV in addition to the classical TORCH agents) in Romania appears to be influenced predominantly by socio-educational and behavioral factors rather than by the quantitative utilization of prenatal care services alone. Given the online recruitment strategy and the predominantly urban and highly educated sample, the reported uptake rates may overestimate population-level coverage. Significant inequalities in access to preventive prenatal investigations were observed, particularly among women with lower educational and socio-economic status. Strengthening prenatal education programs and improving equitable access to standardized prenatal screening may contribute to optimizing congenital infection prevention and maternal–fetal health outcomes.

Background: Candida species are among the most frequently isolated fungi from respiratory specimens in hospitalised patients, yet the clinical significance of their presence—infection versus colonisation, treatment versus observation—remains an unresolved challenge in clinical microbiology. Data from dedicated pulmonology centres in Eastern Europe are scarce. This study aimed to characterise the three-year epidemiology, species distribution, temporal trends, colony-load profiles, and longitudinal mycological trajectories of fungal respiratory isolates at a Romanian tertiary pulmonology hospital. Methods: We retrospectively analysed 1000 microbiological records from bronchial aspirates and other respiratory specimens collected between January 2022 and December 2024. Variables included patient demographics, clinical ward, primary diagnosis, fungal species, and semi-quantitative colony counts. Patients with multiple records were identified and analysed as a longitudinal sub-cohort. Results: Candida albicans predominated (45.5%), with a declining proportional trend across the study period. Candida krusei—intrinsically resistant to fluconazole—increased from 5.3% of isolates in 2022 to 9.7% in 2024. The intensive care unit (ICU) accounted for 25.8% of all records. Patients were predominantly male (67.5%) with a mean age of 63.4 years; acute respiratory failure was the most frequent underlying diagnosis (41.7%). High-load colonisation (>100 colony-forming units/mL) was documented in 19.0% of quantified specimens. Among 91 patients with serial cultures, 26 demonstrated inter-sample species shifts—several consistent with antifungal selection pressure—and 29 showed escalating colony loads, suggesting progression from colonisation toward probable infection. Conclusions: In a clinical setting where fluconazole has historically served as the default empirical antifungal agent, a C. krusei proportion approaching 10% of annual isolates constitutes a clinically actionable finding. Species-level identification of all fungal respiratory isolates is strongly warranted, as it directly influences therapeutic decision-making in approximately one in ten cases.

Objectives: Romania has one of the highest caesarean rates in the European Union, yet little is known about what shapes women’s preferred mode of birth there. This study examined how socio-demographic, obstetric and antenatal care characteristics relate to preferred mode of birth, with a focus on modifiable factors such as the information received during pregnancy, attendance of antenatal classes and access to midwifery care. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire study of 1301 pregnant women recruited online was conducted in Romania between January and July 2023. The association between each characteristic and preferred mode of birth was tested with Pearson’s chi-square test, and effect size was quantified with Cramér’s V. p-Values were adjusted for multiple comparisons with the Bonferroni method, and factors independently associated with preference were identified with multinomial logistic regression (reference category: vaginal birth). Results: One-third of the women preferred caesarean birth (33.4%), just under one-third preferred vaginal birth (29.9%), and 36.7% were undecided. Among parous women, preference was associated with the mode of a previous birth (V = 0.42); in the whole sample, the largest effect size was for the information the physician gave about the birth process (V = 0.36), followed by information about breastfeeding (V = 0.24), the number of antenatal consultations (V = 0.22) and information about early skin-to-skin contact (V = 0.21). Socio-demographic factors showed weaker associations. After Bonferroni adjustment, place of residence and perceived usefulness of access to a midwife were no longer significant. In the multivariable model (n = 1301), a previous caesarean (aOR 5.06), thorough physician information about birth (aOR 2.77) and age of 30 years or over were independently associated with preferring caesarean, whereas antenatal class attendance (aOR 0.35) and thorough information about breastfeeding (aOR 0.40) were associated with lower odds of preferring caesarean. Indecision clustered among women who had received little information and had fewer consultations. Conclusions: In this predominantly urban and highly educated online sample, preferred mode of birth was associated with previous mode of birth, with potentially modifiable antenatal care and information exposure and with some socio-demographic characteristics. Given the cross-sectional design, these associations are not causal, and whether midwife-led antenatal education and counselling support informed choice should be tested in longitudinal or interventional studies.