Dr. Alexandru Coman is a senior consultant epidemiologist with over 20 years of experience in epidemiology, public health, and the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).

He graduated from the Faculty of General Medicine at the "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Cluj-Napoca, and subsequently completed his specialty training in Epidemiology. As part of his professional development, he took part in training programs on emerging infectious diseases in the United States.

Since 2019, he has worked at the "Niculae Stăncioiu" Heart Institute in Cluj-Napoca, where he coordinates HAI surveillance, prevention, and control activities.

His professional work focuses on hospital epidemiology, HAI surveillance, prevention of microorganism transmission, hand hygiene, the appropriate use of infection prevention and control measures, and epidemiological risk management. He has been involved in national projects and initiatives dedicated to preventing HAIs and is Vice President of the Association for Infection Prevention and Control (APCI).

In parallel, he teaches at the "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Cluj-Napoca, in the fields of epidemiology and infectious diseases.

Dr. Iulia Draghiev is a senior epidemiologist within the Department for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) at the “Dr. Aristide Serfioti” Military Emergency Hospital in Galați.

With extensive professional experience gained in both public and private healthcare facilities, Dr. Iulia Draghiev has broad expertise in infectious risk management and patient safety. Her activity includes the coordination and organization of hospital functional circuits, as well as active participation in the development and approval of infrastructure projects for new medical facilities. In addition, Dr. Iulia Draghiev is a healthcare services evaluator accredited by the National Authority for Quality Management in Health (ANMCS). Her expertise is complemented by her university teaching activity, through which she has directly contributed to the training of new generations of medical professionals.

TBA

Senior specialist in laboratory medicine and national expert within the College of Physicians, with a career dedicated to excellence in the Microbiology Laboratory of Bacău County Emergency Hospital. International technical assessor (RENAR and MOLDAC) and co-author of national guidelines for combating antimicrobial resistance and preventing healthcare-associated infections. Dr. Indreaș is directly involved in international antibiotic resistance surveillance programs, with extensive experience as a lecturer and trainer, and with interests in the standardization of current methods in microbiology.

Beatrice Mahler is an Associate Professor with habilitation at the “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest, a senior pulmonologist, and Head of Pneumology Clinic I at the “Marius Nasta” Institute of Pneumoftisiology.

Her research activity focuses on priority areas such as tuberculosis, the impact of air pollution on health, and lung cancer.

An important area of her work is doctor-patient communication, reflected in the publication of the book “Doctor-Patient Communication in Words and Beyond” and the development of the “Narrative Medicine and Clinical Doctor-Patient Communication” course for students at the “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy. She also provides professional training courses in Leadership and Communication for physicians seeking to improve their interpersonal and teamwork skills.

Ramona Marincaș is a licensed nurse and coordinator of the Healthcare-Associated Infection Prevention Service (SPIAAM) at the Satu Mare County Emergency Hospital, Vice President of APCI – the Association for Infection Prevention and Control, and an Honorary Member of the Infection Prevention Society. With a remarkable career in healthcare, she has been actively involved in numerous national and international projects dedicated to the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections and the promotion of patient safety.

Her name is closely linked to the establishment of the first central sterilization unit in Romania, the organization of the National Sterilization Conference, and the development, together with a team of specialists from England, of the reference publication "PRIMUM NON NOCERE – First, Do No Harm," which provides practical recommendations for preventing healthcare-associated infections.

In recognition of her work, Ramona Marincaș was named "Practitioner of the Year 2017" by the Infection Prevention Society (IPS) in the United Kingdom.

Constantin Poiană has been the manager of the "Prof. Dr. Eduard Apetrei" Hospital in Buhuși since 2018, with extensive experience in healthcare management and the development of medical services. In his managerial role, he has been involved in the development and modernization of the hospital, the implementation of quality management systems, and the hospital's accreditation and certification processes. Under his leadership, the hospital has developed modernization and innovation projects and has become an important meeting point and platform for exchanging experience among healthcare professionals.

He is a healthcare services assessor and is active in organizing and moderating conferences, workshops, and professional events. Through these efforts, he has helped facilitate dialogue and collaboration between hospitals, authorities, public institutions, professional organizations, and academia, supporting the exchange of best practices and the development of healthcare services.

For his work in the healthcare field, Constantin Poiană was awarded the Order of "Sanitary Merit" in the rank of Knight in 2022.

With a background in comparative philosophy and the epistemology of science (Paris IV – Sorbonne), Cătălin has been working in the field of microfibres for over 20 years at Decitex, a company specialising in the development of technical microfibres and related products for sectors with infectious risks or particularly demanding requirements. He is the Executive Director of the company's production division in Romania. With its extensive expertise, Decitex is the textile partner of the Clean Hospitals network.

At the APCI Conference 2026, Cătălin will present the international approach to hospital hygiene from the perspective of using technical microfibres, including the conditional move away from the use of biocides. His presentation will focus on managerial decision-making: which type of mop and which type of cloth should be used in each hospital area, depending on the expected outcome (microbial removal or fluid absorption), recognising that this will systematically involve a compromise that needs to be consciously assumed.

Graduate of Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of General Medicine, in 1988. Specialist physician since 1995, then senior physician in Infectious Diseases since 2000.

PhD in Medicine from Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy since 2000, with the thesis “Infective Endocarditis”.

Faculty member at Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Infectious Diseases, since 1991, University Professor since 2016, and senior physician in Infectious Diseases at the Matei Balș National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Bucharest.

Major areas of interest: judicious use of antibiotics, bacterial resistance and Clostridioides difficile infection; improving the etiological diagnosis of infections; healthcare-associated infections (lecturer at the National Institute for Health Services Management on this topic).

Co-author of the five editions of the “Angelescu Guide to Antibiotic Therapy” (2004, 2005, 2012, 2018 and 2024); author and coordinator of the chapters dedicated to Antibiotics in the Treatise on Infectious Diseases, Volume 3 (2024).

Lead author of the annual CARMIN/CARMIAAM reports (Antibiotic Consumption, Microbial Resistance and Nosocomial Infections in Romania), 2012–2023.

Author and coordinator of the drafting of several medical practice guidelines regarding infections with MDR pathogens, C. difficile, and the treatment of major infectious syndromes.

First of all, Radu is from Brașov 😊

Throughout the 15 years he spent in Mountain Troops units of the Romanian Army, Radu held various non-commissioned officer positions, from Squad Commander to Battalion Command Sergeant Major. He was a NATO instructor and is a Military Veteran, having participated in three combat missions (two in Afghanistan and one in Iraq). He completed his military studies both in Romania and abroad (Czech Republic, USA, Italy, Germany, Austria, Norway), developing his skills in planning, preparing and executing military operations.

Since 2010, Radu has stepped into the business world, becoming one of Autonom’s clients. In 2015, Radu joined the Autonom Sales team and evolved, today leading the Group’s operational leasing division in the role of Executive Director. He is a member of several Advisory Boards, helping companies and NGOs grow and develop strong organizational cultures. Radu holds a Bachelor’s degree in the Economics of Trade, Tourism and Services, obtained from Transilvania University of Brașov.

He strongly believes that people are at the center of everything we do.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/radupredescu https://www.facebook.com/radu.predescu1

Anamaria Roșu is a clinical psychologist, holding a master's degree in Public and Clinical Health Psychology from Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca and postgraduate studies in Psychosomatic Medicine at the “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Timișoara.

She coordinates specialist activity at the “Sfântul Gheorghe” Social Services Center and works at the Medica Memfis Clinic, where she provides evidence-based psychological interventions in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams.

Her professional interests focus on the intersection of clinical psychology, public health, and integrated care. At the APCI Conference, she is presenting “Infection Control and Staff Psychological Barriers,” addressing the role of psychological and organisational factors in infection prevention and control.

Dr. Lavinia-Cipriana Rusu, MD, PhD, MSc, is a senior epidemiologist at the National Institute of Public Health – National Centre for Surveillance and Control of Communicable Diseases, with over 20 years of experience in epidemiology and public health. At the beginning of her career, she worked as an epidemiologist in two hospitals in Bucharest, coordinating activities related to the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections.

Her current work focuses on the surveillance and control of communicable diseases, preparedness and response to public health threats, and the coordination of alert and rapid response mechanisms. She is the National Focal Point for Preparedness and Response at ECDC and the National Focal Point for food- and waterborne diseases and zoonoses, and has been involved for over 15 years in European surveillance networks coordinated by ECDC. In this field, she is responsible for the epidemiological surveillance of food- and waterborne infections, including antimicrobial resistance surveillance of Salmonella, Campylobacter, Shigella and Escherichia coli strains.

She represents Romania in European structures and working groups dedicated to preparedness and response to public health emergencies and serious cross-border health threats. She is involved in national and European projects, training programmes and simulation exercises. She holds a PhD in Medical Sciences and a Master's degree in Health Promotion and Preventive Strategies. Her scientific activity focuses on the epidemiology and surveillance of communicable diseases, as well as public health preparedness and response.

Paula Rusu is a journalist, communication trainer, moderator, blogger, and health advocate. She has over 16 years of experience in television, having worked with Romania's major television networks. She continues her journalistic work through her personal blog and the "Live cu Paula din Sufragerie" project, covering topics of public interest and health. She also provides communication training, helping others develop their communication and presentation skills.

János Szederjesi is a consultant in anaesthesiology and intensive care at the County Emergency Clinical Hospital in Târgu Mureș, Romania, and an Associate Professor at George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology. He began his medical career in emergency medicine with the UPU–SMURD team and has worked in anaesthesiology and intensive care since 2001. Since 2021, he has headed the department while continuing his clinical work and teaching medical students and residents.

Medical education is an important part of his work. Since 2012, he has coordinated the university’s Centre for Simulation and Practical Skills and contributed to simulation-based training courses. He is particularly interested in translating clinical experience into practical learning activities that support everyday patient care.

His clinical and research interests include intravenous anaesthesia, critical care, and medical simulation. He has contributed to multicentre studies, scientific publications, and textbooks, and supervises doctoral research in medicine. He also contributes to national and European educational programmes, including ESICM’s Intensive Care Fundamentals programme as a Core Faculty member. He chairs the Simulation Commission of the Romanian Society of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care and serves on the WFSA Workforce and Wellbeing Committee.

Associate Professor – Târgu Mureș University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Discipline of Microbiology. Senior specialist in laboratory medicine and medical microbiology – County Clinical Emergency Hospital Târgu-Mureș. Fields of interest: antimicrobial resistance, molecular epidemiology of germs involved in hospital acquired infections, antibiotic consumption, diagnostic stewardship. Concerns: standardization of diagnostic methods in microbiology laboratories, involvement in professional training programs for microbiologists, acknowledgement of the importance of medical microbiology and promotion of interdisciplinary communication.