Epidemiologia
Changes in Knowledge and Practices Regarding Tick-Borne Encephalitis Among Infectious Disease Physicians in Romania: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Survey
By Panciu AM, Cheran CA, Panciu TC and 2 others.
Abstract
Background/objectives
Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is an emerging vector-borne pathogen in Europe, yet it may be potentially underrecognized in countries reporting few clinical cases. Despite the small number of reported TBE cases, evidence of TBEV circulation in Romania has increased in recent years. Awareness and clinical practices among infectious disease physicians remain insufficiently characterized. This study evaluated changes in knowledge and clinical practices regarding TBEV infection among infectious disease physicians in Romania between 2019 and 2025, following the introduction of TBE vaccination.
Methods
We conducted a repeated cross-sectional survey using the same questionnaire in two independent cohorts of infectious disease physicians in Romania (2019, n = 164; 2025 n = 140). Knowledge of tick-borne diseases, TBEV global and local epidemiology, diagnosis, and clinical practice was evaluated and compared.