Burns unit leader in Romania dismissed following patient contracting multiple drug-resistant hospital infections
Tiberiu Paul Neagu, the head of the Burns Center at Romania's Floreasca Hospital, was dismissed on August 4, 2022, following a public health scandal. The immediate trigger was an outbreak of Candida auris, a dangerous, multi-drug-resistant hospital-acquired fungal infection, among critically burned patients under his care.
The outbreak was confirmed on August 1, 2022, when a patient with burns covering over 70% of her body, after 53 days at Floreasca Hospital, was transferred to Belgium. Doctors in Belgium discovered the infection, and the news was later shared with Romanian authorities.
Subsequent inspections by the State Sanitary Inspection revealed that three out of six severely burned patients in the unit were infected with Candida auris, prompting an official outbreak declaration.
Health minister Alexandru Rogobete publicly criticized Neagu for "gross irresponsibility and indifference," noting that he was on leave and had requested an extension during the crisis, behavior deemed incompatible with his professional responsibilities.
The dismissal of Neagu marks a significant moment for Romania’s healthcare system, as Floreasca Hospital’s Burns Center is the country’s only major facility for severe burns. The incident exposed serious lapses in infection control and raised concerns about patient safety and hospital management standards in Romania’s flagship public hospitals.
Following the outbreak and Neagu’s dismissal, the Romanian authorities initiated several measures:
- Comprehensive Screening: All patients and staff at the Burns Center were tested for Candida auris to identify further cases and prevent spread.
- Leadership Review: The health ministry intervened directly, demanding and securing Neagu’s removal as part of a broader response to restore public confidence in the hospital’s administration.
- Public Accountability: The minister used social media to communicate the actions taken and the reasons behind them, signaling a commitment to transparency and reform.
Cleaning and disinfection procedures have been intensified in all areas of the hospital, and the staff from the Burns Center has been retrained regarding hand hygiene, the use of protective equipment, patient isolation measures, and care.
| Aspect | Details | |-------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Cause of Dismissal | Outbreak of Candida auris; poor infection control; absence during crisis | | Immediate Impact | Public scandal; loss of trust; spotlight on hospital management failures | | Subsequent Measures | Mass testing of patients/staff; leadership change; public communication of actions |
The case underscores ongoing challenges in Romania’s healthcare system regarding infection control, leadership accountability, and crisis management in critical care units.
- In the wake of the Candida auris outbreak at Romania's Floreasca Hospital, a comprehensive screening of all patients and staff was implemented to identify further cases and prevent the spread of the medical-condition, which is a dangerous, multi-drug-resistant hospital-acquired fungal infection related to chronic-diseases.
- The health-and-wellness scenario in Romania was highlighted following the outbreak and dismissal of Tiberiu Paul Neagu, the head of the Burns Center, when the authorities initiated measures such as public accountability, leadership review, and intense cleaning and disinfection procedures to address the lapses in infection control and raise standards in hospital management.
