The Foundation For The Citizens Defense Of The Citizens Against State Abuses (FACIAS) highlights the critical situation in the Romanian healthcare system, where nosocomial infections continue to represent a significant risk to patients. Despite the existence of legislation, the absence of clear and applicable methodological rules contributes to the ongoing vulnerability of patients to these infections.
Outbreak at Giulești Maternity Hospital: a danger that could have been avoided
The most recent serious example is that of the Giulești Maternity Hospital, where, in September 2024, nine newborns were infected with Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria,known for its resistance to antibiotic treatments. This incident highlights significant deficiencies in the implementation of existing legislation. Despite extensive media coverage at the time, FACIAS has continued to monitor the situation, documenting the shortcomings and providing specific recommendations to the authorities.
FACIAS has highlighted the absence of methodological norms for the implementation of Law No. 3/2021 on the prevention and treatment of nosocomial infections as a significant structural issue. This legislative deficiency enables the perpetuation of circumstances that facilitate the emergence and dissemination of such infections.
Insufficient response from the authorities
Despite the Ministry of Health's dissemination of information regarding the implementation of measures such as the comprehensive sanitisation of the affected ward and the provisional suspension of admissions to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, these actions are merely reactive and inadequate. They fail to address the fundamental issue, namely the absence of a comprehensive legislative framework that encompasses explicit regulations for infection prevention and control.
FACIAS actions
In January 2023, FACIAS initiated a court action, requesting that the Ministry of Health be ordered to draw up the methodological norms related to Law 3/2021. Despite the publication of a draft set of rules in February 2023 and its submission to the decision-making transparency process, it was subsequently withdrawn without any concrete steps being taken towards its adoption.
FACIAS stresses the importance of adopting methodological rules, which would allow:
- Organization of a service dedicated to the prevention and control of nosocomial infections in each health facility;
- Establish clear responsibilities for health facility managers and staff involved;
- Disciplinary sanctions and fines for non-compliance.
Call for urgent action
FACIAS urges the Ministry of Health to expeditiously conclude and adopt the methodological norms for the implementation of Law No. 3/2021. In the absence of these norms, incidents such as the recent outbreak at Giulești Maternity Hospital will persist, endangering human lives and eroding public trust in the healthcare system.