Simona Paraschiv

Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy

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Dan Oțelea

National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences

Leontina Bănică

Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy

Marius Surleac

National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences

Adrian Streinu‐Cercel

Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy

Ovidiu Vlaicu

National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences

Oana Săndulescu

National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences

Dimitrios Paraskevis

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

Dragoş Florea

Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy

Anca Streinu‐Cercel

Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy

Maja Stanojević

University of Belgrade

Cooperative Institutions

National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences

144

Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy

120

Spitalul Clinic Dr. Victor Babes

Clinical Emergency Hospital Bucharest

KU Leuven

University of Bucharest

Rega Institute for Medical Research

Universidade Nova de Lisboa

University of Belgrade

Ovidius University

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Short Communication:Evidence of Novel SARS-CoV-2 Variants Circulation in Romania

AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses (2021)

Marius Surleac Corina Casangiu Leontina Bănică Petre Milu Dragoş Florea

New SARS-CoV-2 variants are constantly emerging and putting a strain on public health systems by spreading faster and potentially evading immune protection through vaccination. One of these strains is the B.1.1.7 variant that has initially been described in the United Kingdom and has subsequently spread to several countries. Monitoring the amplification of the S gene-a major hotspot for molecular evolution-by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) allows rapidly screening for such variants. This report describes the detection of sequence variants in Romania by using this strategy followed by next-generation sequencing of the entire genome for confirmation and further characterization. One B.1.1.7 and three B.1.258 sequences were confirmed. Each of these strains presented additional mutations with possible impact on the replicative capacity. Public health strategies should be devised to ensure molecular monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 evolution during the pandemic and allow adequate and rapid reaction.

Circulation (fluid dynamics)

2019-20 coronavirus outbreak

10.1089/aid.2021.0009

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Citations (8)

P.2.032 Drug monitoring factors in schizophrenia treatment

European Neuropsychopharmacology (2004)

D. Vasile Mihai Gheorghe O. Vasiliu Simona Paraschiv

Discontinuation

Adjunctive treatment

Depression

10.1016/s0924-977x(04)80252-9

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Citations (0)

M1890 Pathological and Immunophenotypic Features of Chronic Lymphoproliferative Disorders in Patients With Viral Hepatitis

Gastroenterology (2010)

I Mihăilescu Victoria Aramă Adrian Streinu‐Cercel Sorin Ștefan Aramă Ana Maria Vlădăreanu

Lymphoproliferative Disorders

Viral Hepatitis

10.1016/s0016-5085(10)63824-3

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Resistance testing by next-generation sequencing in resource-limited settings: case presentations from Croatia

Ana Planinić Dan Oțelea Simona Paraschiv Snježana Židovec Lepej Josip Begovać

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Recent HIV-1 Outbreak Among Intravenous Drug Users in Romania: Evidence for Cocirculation of CRF14_BG and Subtype F1 Strains

AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses (2014)

I Niculescu Simona Paraschiv Dimitrios Paraskevis Adrian Abagiu I Wayan Batan

Since 2011, Romania has faced an HIV outbreak among injecting drug users (IDUs). Our aim was to identify and describe clinical and epidemiological patterns of this outbreak. A cross-sectional study enrolled 138 IDUs diagnosed with HIV infection between 2011 and 2013 with 58 sexually infected individuals included as the control group. The IDUs had a long history of heroin abuse (10 years) and a recent history of new psychostimulant injection (3–4 years). Classical epidemiological data and molecular techniques were used to describe the transmission dynamics. A high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection was noted (98.6%) compared to the control group (10.3%) (p<0.001). IDUs had initially been infected with HCV. HIV infection was more recent, linked to starting injecting stimulants. HIV subtype analysis showed a predominance of the local F1 strain in both IDUs and sexually infected patients; in IDUs it also identified 28 CRF14_BG recombinants and six unique recombinant forms (URFs) between F1 and CRF14_BG. A few patients from both risk groups were infected with subtype B. Among IDUs, CRF14_BG was associated with a lower CD4 cell count and more advanced stages of disease, which correlated with CXCR4 tropism. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the spread of HIV through three major IDU clusters of recent date. Among IDUs with CRF14_BG, some reported travel abroad (Spain, Greece). By identifying clusters of IDUs with related viruses, molecular epidemiologic methods provide valuable information on patterns of HIV transmission that can be useful in planning appropriate harm reduction interventions.

harm reduction

Molecular Epidemiology

10.1089/aid.2014.0189

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Citations (47)

Temporo-spatial Variations in Resistance Determinants and Clonality of Acinetobacter Baumannii and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Strains From Romanian Hospitals and Wastewaters

Research Square (Research Square) (2022)

Irina Gheorghe Ilda Czobor Barbu Laura Ioana Popa Gratiela Gradisteanu Parcalabioru Marcela Popa

Abstract Background : Romania is one of the European countries reporting very high antimicrobial resistance (AMR) rates and consumption of antimicrobials. We aimed to characterize the AMR profiles and clonality of 304 multi-drug resistant (MDR), carbapenemase (CP) and extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Acinetobacter baumannii ( Ab ) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ( Pa ) strains isolated during two consecutive years (2018 and 2019) from hospital settings, hospital collecting sewage tanks and the receiving wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) located in the main geographical regions of Romania. Methods : The strains were isolated on chromogenic media and identified by MALDI-TOF-MS. Antibiotic susceptibility testing and confirmation of ESBL- and CP- producing phenotype were performed. The genetic analyses consisted of PCR for ESBL and CP genes, horizontal gene transfer experiments, whole-genome sequencing (WGS), assembling, annotation and characterization. Results : Both clinical and aquatic isolates exhibited high MDR rates, especially the Ab strains isolated from nosocomial infections and hospital effluents. The phenotypic resistance profiles and MDR rates have largely varied by sampling point and by geographic location. The highest MDR rates in aquatic isolates were recorded in Galați WWTP followed by Bucharest. The Ab strains harbored mostly bla OXA-23 , bla OXA-24 , bla SHV , bla TEM and bla GES , while Pa strains bla IMP , bla VIM , bla NDM , bla VEB , bla GES and bla TEM , with high variations depending on the geographical zone and the sampling point. The WGS analysis revealed the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) to other antibiotic classes, such as aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, sulphonamides, fosfomycin, phenicols, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole as well as class 1 integrons. The molecular Ab and Pa analyses highlighted: i) the presence of epidemic clones such as ST2 for Ab and ST233 and ST357 for Pa ; ii) the relatedness between clinical and hospital wastewater strains and iii) the possible dissemination of clinical Ab strains belonging to ST2 (also proved in the conjugation assays to transfer bla OXA-23 or bla OXA-72 genes), ST79 and ST492 and of clinical Pa strains belonging to ST357, ST640 and ST621 in the wastewaters. Conclusion : The prevalent clones were strongly associated with the presence of class 1 integrons, suggesting that those isolates could be a significant reservoir of ARGs and are able to persist into the environment.

Acinetobacter baumannii

Fosfomycin

Sulfamethoxazole

Trimethoprim

10.21203/rs.3.rs-1294567/v1

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Temporo-spatial variations in resistance determinants and clonality of Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains from Romanian hospitals and wastewaters

Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control (2022)

Irina Gheorghe-Barbu Ilda Czobor Barbu Laura Ioana Popa Grațiela Grădișteanu Pîrcălăbioru Marcela Popa

Romania is one of the European countries reporting very high antimicrobial resistance (AMR) rates and consumption of antimicrobials. We aimed to characterize the AMR profiles and clonality of 304 multi-drug resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) strains isolated during two consecutive years (2018 and 2019) from hospital settings, hospital collecting sewage tanks and the receiving wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) located in the main geographical regions of Romania.The strains were isolated on chromogenic media and identified by MALDI-TOF-MS. Antibiotic susceptibility testing and confirmation of ESBL- and CP- producing phenotypes and genotypes were performed. The genetic characterization also included horizontal gene transfer experiments, whole-genome sequencing (WGS), assembling, annotation and characterization.Both clinical and aquatic isolates exhibited high MDR rates, especially the Ab strains isolated from nosocomial infections and hospital effluents. The phenotypic resistance profiles and MDR rates have largely varied by sampling point and geographic location. The highest MDR rates in the aquatic isolates were recorded in Galați WWTP, followed by Bucharest. The Ab strains harbored mostly blaOXA-23, blaOXA-24, blaSHV, blaTEM and blaGES, while Pa strains blaIMP, blaVIM, blaNDM, blaVEB, blaGES and blaTEM, with high variations depending on the geographical zone and the sampling point. The WGS analysis revealed the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) to other antibiotic classes, such as aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, sulphonamides, fosfomycin, phenicols, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole as well as class 1 integrons. The molecular analyses highlighted: (i) The presence of epidemic clones such as ST2 for Ab and ST233 and ST357 for Pa; (ii) The relatedness between clinical and hospital wastewater strains and (iii) The possible dissemination of clinical Ab belonging to ST2 (also proved in the conjugation assays for blaOXA-23 or blaOXA-72 genes), ST79 and ST492 and of Pa strains belonging to ST357, ST640 and ST621 in the wastewaters.Our study reveals the presence of CP-producing Ab and Pa in all sampling points and the clonal dissemination of clinical Ab ST2 strains in the wastewaters. The prevalent clones were correlated with the presence of class 1 integrons, suggesting that these isolates could be a significant reservoir of ARGs, being able to persist in the environment.

Acinetobacter baumannii

Fosfomycin

Multilocus sequence typing

10.1186/s13756-022-01156-1

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Citations (21)

NGS combined with phylogenetic analysis to detect HIV-1 dual infection in Romanian people who inject drugs

Microbes and Infection (2018)

Bogdan Popescu Leontina Bănică Ionelia Nicolae Eugen Radu I Niculescu

10.1016/j.micinf.2018.03.004

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Citations (6)

P-671. Clinical and Laboratory Findings of Measles in Hospitalized Adolescents and Adults in Romania: A Retrospective Study

Open Forum Infectious Diseases (2025)

Daniela Neagu David V. Mangaloiu Violeta Molagic Cătălin Tilişcan Laurențiu Stratan

Abstract Background Despite the availability of efficient and safe vaccines, measles remains a significant public health threat worldwide. In Romania, there has been a resurgence of measles since March 2023, leading up to an outbreak in early December, with many cases reported including among the adult population. Consequently, this study aims to present the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory data of adolescents and adults hospitalized for measles.Table 1.Patient demographics, clinical, paraclinical and complications characteristics. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis which included 87 patients, aged over 14 years, with measles admitted to National Institute of Infectious Disease „Prof. Dr. Matei Balș”, Bucharest, Romania, between July 2023 and April 2024. For all included patients the diagnosis of measles was serologically confirmed. Demographic, epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data were collected for each patient. Results Our results are summarized in Table 1. In brief, the mean age of the participants was 30.82 ± 12.90 years and 57.5% were males. Most of them (89.8%) had no chronic conditions. The most frequent symptoms and signs presented at admission were rash (100%), fever (98.9%) and cough (94.3%). Koplik spots were found in 81.6% of patients. A total of 8% of patients had a full history of MMR vaccination, while 9.2% had been vaccinated with only one dose. The most common laboratory parameter findings were increased C-reactive protein (100%), lymphopenia (95.4%) and liver cytolysis (80.5%). The median duration of hospitalization was 5 days. Pneumonia (74.7%) was the most frequent complication and acute respiratory failure (ARF) was reported in 16.1% of patients. The presence of at least one chronic condition increased the risk of ARF 3.5-fold (p=0.036), and prolonged the duration of hospitalization by at least one day. Conclusion The ongoing measles outbreak in Romania highlights significant gaps in adolescents and adults vaccination and immunity. The data underline the severe impact of measles in adults, particularly those with unmanaged chronic conditions, leading to extended hospitalization and complications. This study emphasizes the need for improved vaccination strategies and public health policies to mitigate the measles threat effectively. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Pathogenic organism

10.1093/ofid/ofae631.867

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SARS-CoV-2 in Romania – analysis of the first confirmed case and evolution of the pandemic in Romania in the first three months

GERMS (2020)

Adrian Streinu‐Cercel Cătălin Apostolescu Oana Săndulescu Dan Oțelea Anca Streinu‐Cercel

Pandemic

2019-20 coronavirus outbreak

10.18683/germs.2020.1198

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Citations (18)