Eva Polverino
Postdoctoral Researcher
epolveri(ELIMINAR)@clinic.ub.es
Doctor of Medicine in Cardiorpulmonary Pathophysiology from the University of Pisa (Italy). Specialist in respiratory medicine she is involved in the field of respiratory infections and particularly in Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP), noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) and humoral immuno-deficiencies. She investigates epidemiology, risk factors, outcome, treatment and prevention of the most relevant respiratory infections.
Despite the enormous advances in antibiotic therapy CAP is still a very prevalent disease worldwide with a considerable morbidity and mortality. Main efforts of the projects she carries on in this line of research are directed at monitoring epidemiological and clinical changes of the disease and evaluating strategies of better disease control and prevention with special attention to some risk classes of patients such as elderly and long term care facility residents (Healthcare associated pneumonia, HCAP).
In the field of bronquiectasis main objectives are focused on investigation of the prevalence and outcomes of this under estimated but very frequent disease and its impact on the society. In particular the real prevalence and clinical endpoints of NCFB (i.e. quality of life, chronic expectoration) in the general population are still unclear although there are data suggesting that the disease could be as prevalent as COPD.
Humoral immuno-deficiencies are part of a group of rare immunological disorders causing recurrent respiratory infections whose genetics is still barely known. In this line new therapeutic approches are tested and several collaboration projects with other institutions are carried out to broaden our knowledge about immunological and genetic disorders possibly involved in the disease.
In summary, the results of her research are aimed at investigating pathogenetic mechanisms of respiratory infections, improving their clinical outcomes and patients’ quality of life.
Publications
Current perspective of the HCAP problem: is it CAP or is it HAP?
Polverino E, Torres A.
Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 2009 Apr;30(2):239-48. Epub 2009 Mar 18. PubMed PMID: 19296421.
Patients' characterization, hospital course and clinical outcomes in five Italian respiratory intensive care units.
Polverino E, Nava S, Ferrer M, Ceriana P, Clini E, Spada E, Zanotti E, Trianni L, Barbano L, Fracchia C, Balbi B, Vitacca M.
Intensive Care Med. 2010 Jan;36(1):137-42. Epub 2009 Sep 26.
Nursing home-acquired pneumonia: a 10 year single-centre experience
Polverino E, Dambrava P, Cillóniz C, Balasso V, Marcos MA, Esquinas C, Mensa J, Ewig S, Torres A.
Thorax. 2010 Apr;65(4):354-9.
The results of her research are aimed at investigating pathogenetic mechanisms of respiratory infections, improving their clinical outcomes and patients’ quality of life