Background and Objectives: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are on the rise worldwide because the range of etiologic agents involved is very diverse and their antimicrobial resistance poses a threat to population health in the third millennium. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective, longitudinal, descriptive clinical–epidemiological study in a hospital with a neurosurgical profile in northeastern Romania (“Prof. Dr. N. Oblu” Clinical Emergency Hospital in Iasi), during 2020–2024. The study is centered on the involvement of Acinetobacter spp. in the occurrence and evolution of HAIs. Results: The highest incidence of Acinetobacter spp. HAIs was recorded in the intensive care unit (ICU)—82.78% compared to neurosurgical wards (15.38%), with predominance in males (69.23%) and rural residence patients (55.67%). Most HAIs were represented by ventilator-associated pneumonia (42.13%) and lower respiratory tract infections (23.08%). Strains with high virulence and pathogenicity (CR-MDR, ESBL-MDR) were found, with the highest proportion of CR-MDR strains (88.27%). Conclusions: Our study provides useful data for surveillance of the antimicrobial resistance of pathogens involved in HAIs at the hospital level and for guiding antibiotic therapy in hospital-acquired infections.

Background: Cardiac involvement is a key prognostic factor in multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a rare but serious inflammatory condition that typically occurs 2–6 weeks after SARS-CoV-2 infection and is characterized by fever, systemic inflammation, and multiorgan involvement. Biomarkers may aid in early detection, severity assessment, and treatment stratification. Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic utility of established and emerging serum biomarkers in MIS-C, with an emphasis on cardiac dysfunction and disease severity. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science up to April 2025. Eligible studies included pediatric MIS-C cases with reported serum biomarkers. Meta-analyses were performed for NT-proBNP and troponin using random-effects models. Descriptive profiling was applied to emerging biomarkers. Subgroup comparisons were explored between severe and moderate MIS-C. Quality assessment followed the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale, and publication bias was assessed via funnel plots and Egger’s test. Results: A total of 67 studies were included, comprising >4000 pediatric MIS-C cases. NT-proBNP and troponin were consistently elevated (pooled means: 9697 pg/mL and 0.384 ng/mL, respectively), with a low risk of publication bias. Emerging biomarkers such as CXCL9, angiopoietin-2, and vitamin D revealed high inter-study variability but potential prognostic value. Subgroup analyses for selected studies (n = 5) suggested higher biomarker levels in severe MIS-C. Conclusions: NT-proBNP and troponin are robust indicators of cardiac injury in MIS-C. Emerging biomarkers show promise but require validation. Future studies should include copeptin and adopt standardized reporting to refine biomarker-guided management.

Universal newborn hearing screening is essential for early identification of sensorineural hearing loss. Infants born to adolescent mothers may be more vulnerable to abnormal screening outcomes due to biological, socio-economic, and obstetrical risk factors frequently associated with adolescent pregnancy. This study evaluates hearing screening outcomes in newborns of adolescent mothers and examines whether maternal and neonatal vulnerabilities contribute to abnormal (REFER) results. A retrospective observational study was conducted over four years (January 2021–January 2025) at the “Sf. Ap. Andrei” County Emergency Clinical Hospital, Galați, Romania. The study included 187 newborns of adolescent mothers (≤18 years) and 3203 newborns of mothers aged >19 years. All infants underwent transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) testing within 48–72 h after birth, according to institutional protocol. PASS/REFER outcomes were recorded, and retesting was performed when indicated. Although otological conditions such as middle ear dysfunction may influence OAE responses, routine otoscopic examination and clinical assessment were performed prior to testing. Automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) testing was not routinely applied due to equipment availability and local screening practices. The final REFER rate was slightly higher in the adolescent group (5.3%) compared with the adult group (4.8%). Maternal age alone was not directly associated with abnormal outcomes; however, maternal anemia, limited prenatal care, rural residence, prematurity, and low birth weight were more frequently observed among cases with persistent REFER results. Infants born to adolescent mothers show a modestly increased likelihood of abnormal hearing screening outcomes, primarily related to cumulative maternal and neonatal vulnerabilities. Strengthening prenatal care and targeted audiological follow-up may improve early detection of sensorineural hearing loss in this population.

Background/objectives. Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) remains a major cause of healthcare-associated infectious colitis, particularly among elderly and multimorbid patients. Disease severity and clinical evolution are influenced by the host’s systemic inflammatory response. This study aimed to evaluate the hematological and inflammatory profile of hospitalized CDI patients and to explore the prognostic value of routine laboratory parameters for prolonged hospitalization. Methods. A retrospective observational study was conducted on 50 adult patients hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed CDI (positive glutamate dehydrogenase, antigen and toxins A/B). Hematological parameters (WBC, hemoglobin, RDW) and inflammatory markers (CRP, fibrinogen) were analyzed at admission and discharge. Prolonged hospitalization was defined as length of stay (LOS) > 8 days (cohort median). Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess admission predictors of prolonged hospitalization, and model discrimination was evaluated using leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV). Results. At admission, patients exhibited marked inflammatory activation accompanied by reduced hemoglobin and elevated RDW. Significant correlations were observed between inflammatory markers. All inflammatory and hematologic parameters improved at discharge. In multivariable analysis, lower admission hemoglobin and higher log-transformed CRP showed exploratory associations with prolonged hospitalization. The internally validated model demonstrated moderate discriminative performance (AUC = 0.65). Conclusions. CDI is associated with substantial systemic inflammatory activation and hematologic alterations. While no individual predictor reached statistical significance, the observed effect sizes provide hypothesis-generating estimates to inform future prospective validation studies.

Background and Objectives: Seizures and epilepsy are common in children with life-limiting illnesses, particularly in the context of severe neurological impairment. However, data on the clinical profile of these patients in paediatric palliative care are limited, and the lack of standardised protocols adapted to this context represents a clinical challenge. To assess the prevalence of epilepsy and associated clinical characteristics in children receiving paediatric palliative care and to develop a clinical protocol for the management of seizures based on expert consensus. Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted, based on the analysis of clinical data from children registered in a paediatric palliative care service (Lumina Association, Romania). Demographic, diagnostic, neurological status and anticonvulsant treatment data were collected. Based on the results obtained and the existing literature, a clinical protocol was developed using a modified Delphi method approach, involving a multidisciplinary panel of experts and two rounds of evaluation of clinical statements. Results: A total of 101 patients (54.5% boys and 45.5% girls) were included, with a mean age of 7.2 ± 4.7 years. Epilepsy was documented in 32.7% of patients and was significantly associated with a neurological diagnosis (p = 0.008), severe neurodevelopmental delay (p = 0.032) and severe motor impairment (p = 0.036). The Delphi process led to the validation of 13 clinical recommendations, the majority of which achieved a strong level of consensus (>85%). Conclusions: Epilepsy is common and closely associated with severe neurological impairment in paediatric palliative care. The integration of systematic neurological assessment and the implementation of a consensus-based clinical protocol can support a more structured approach to seizure management in paediatric palliative care.