Experts
ALL EXPERTS
Dr. Michele Conversano
PresidentDr. Conversano is Director of the Department of Prevention and Director of the Public Health and Health Service of the ASL of TARANTO.
Languages : English, Italian
BIOGRAPHY
Michele Conversano graduated in Medicine and Surgery and qualified for the profession of surgeon doctor at the University of Bologna. He specialized in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine - Public Health at the University of Bari.Dr. Conversano now serves as Director of the Department of Prevention of ASL of TARANTO and Director of the Public Health and Health Service of the ASL of TARANTO.
MEDIA APPEARANCES
TARANTO. The first meeting of the "Basketball, Food and Sports Medicine" project was held with Dr. Michele Conversano, doctors of the Department of Prevention and rossoblu in full
Viv@VoceSeptember 16, 2016
To do the homework of the Director of the Department of Prevention of the Asl of Taranto, Dr. Michele Conversano : "My presence here stems the roots in my old miniature Ricciardi tile in the late 1960s. My back still suffers from those games on the cement ... I have to say that it is a great pleasure to see me here before me Chiacig after seeing him win the Europeans with Italy ... maybe he more than others would be the most suitable to talk about this campaign seen That if he is still here to play after the age of 40 he means he has done all right, even the nutrition. Which is inevitably the basis of a healthy life even more in sports. Hence the idea of this collaboration with Cus Jonico was born, to give a hand to the athletes, if possible to improve their performance on the field. "
The solitude of Conversano. How the Taranto Health Center was born
GreenewsMarch 18, 2015
Michele Conversano is director of the Department of Prevention of ASL in Taranto since 1995, years in which the relationship between pollution and health had not been reported yet in the province of Puglia that hosts the Ilva steel production and processing plant. For twenty years Conversano is working to explain the excess of mortality and morbidity in the resident population : it has done so for a long time in its solitude and despite the evidence emerging from the work carried out with the WHO, the ISS, with the CNR and the Aeneas.
Articles
Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins, polychlorodibenzofurans, and polychlorobiphenyls in women of reproductive age in Italy: A human biomonitoring study
International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health2017Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs), polychlorodibenzofurans (PCDFs), and polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants that represent a major concern for women of reproductive age because of the neurodevelopmental effects associated to perinatal exposure.
Safety and immune response to a challenge dose of hepatitis B vaccine in healthy children primed 10years earlier with hexavalent vaccines in a 3, 5, 11-month schedule
Vaccine2017Background and aims: The strategy of vaccinating infants to prevent hepatitis B virus infection in adolescence or adulthood requires durable immunity. This study investigated responses to a challenge dose of monovalent hepatitis B vaccine in children primed with three doses of either Hexavac® or Infanrix hexa® 10. years earlier during infancy. Methods: This open-label, controlled, multicentre study conducted in Italy, enrolled 751 healthy pre-adolescents (aged 11-13. years) who were given either Hexavac (n = 409) or Infanrix hexa (n = 342) at 3, 5 and 11. months of life. All participants received a challenge dose of a monovalent hepatitis B vaccine (HBVaxPro® 5. μg). The concentrations of antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) were measured before and 1. month after the challenge dose. The analysis was descriptive and no formal hypothesis was tested. Results: One month post-challenge, 331 participants in the Hexavac cohort [83.6%, 95% CI: 79.6; 87.1] and 324 in the Infanrix hexa cohort [96.4%, 95% CI: 93.8; 98.1] had anti-HBs concentrations ≥10. mIU/mL. Before the challenge dose, an anti-HBs concentration of ≥10. mIU/mL was found in 94 children in the Hexavac cohort [23.9%, 95% CI: 19.7; 28.4] and in 232 children in the Infanrix hexa cohort [69%, 95% CI: 63.8; 74.0]. Among children with a pre-challenge anti-HBs concentration of 80%) at least 10. years after a two-dose primary and booster vaccination schedule with a hexavalent vaccine.
Guidance for the management of patients with latent tuberculosis infection requiring biologic therapy in rheumatology and dermatology clinical practice
Autoimmunity Reviews2017Since the introduction of biologics for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and psoriasis (Pso) an increased risk of tuberculosis (TB) reactivation in patients with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) has been recorded for anti-TNF agents, while a low or absent risk is associated with the non-anti-TNF targeted biologics. To reduce this risk several recommendation sets have been published over time, but in most of them the host-related risk, and the predisposing role to TB reactivation exerted by corticosteroids and by the traditional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs has not been adequately addressed. Moreover, the management of the underlying disease, and the timing of biologic restarting in patients with TB occurrence have been rarely indicated. A multidisciplinary expert panel, the Italian multidisciplinary task force for screening of tuberculosis before and during biologic therapy (SAFEBIO), was constituted, and through a review of the literature, an evidence-based guidance for LTBI detection, identification of the individualized level of risk of TB reactivation, and practical management of patients with TB occurrence was formulated. The literature review confirmed a higher TB risk associated with monoclonal anti-TNF agents, a low risk for soluble receptor etanercept, and a low or absent risk for non-anti-TNF targeted biologics.
Prevention of Herpes Zoster and its complications: From clinical evidence to real life experience
Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics2016Herpes zoster (HZ) is an acute viral illness characterized by a vesicular rash with unilateral distribution, which can also result in severe complications such as post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), ophthalmic zoster, stroke or other neurological complications. The estimate incidence in Europe ranges between 2.0 and 4.6 cases per 1,000 person-years, with a sharp increase in >50 year-old subjects. Currently, treatment options for HZ are only partially effective in limiting the acute phase, while the management of complications is complex and often unsatisfactory. The total burden of the disease and the high costs related to its diagnostic and therapeutic management led researchers to develop a new preventive approach through a live attenuated virus vaccine. The currently available vaccine, with a high antigen content, is safe, well tolerated and reduces the incidence of HZ, PHN and the burden of illness. Several countries have introduced this vaccination, albeit with different recommendations and methods of financing. Taking into account the barriers to this immunization registered in some areas (difficulty of vaccine distribution, lack of physician recommendations, the cost of vaccine for patients, etc.), this group of Italian experts advocate that a common strategy able to guarantee a good compliance with this vaccination should be implemented. The same group addresses some practical questions concerning the use of zoster vaccine.
La vaccinazione universale contro la varicella in Italia: una questione di equità. / [Universal vaccination against varicella in Italy: the same opportunity for all children].
Igiene E Sanita Pubblica2016Varicella is an infectious disease still frequent in Italy, where 8 out 20 Regions have adopted universal vaccination programs starting from 2003. Accordingly to National Vaccination Plan, all Regions should introduce universal varicella vaccination in 2015. An independent multidisciplinary group of experts met to discuss some debated questions. The available evidence of varicella vaccine efficacy in the 8 Regions was evaluated and the evidence of safety of monovalent and combined varicella vaccines are presented. The strategy for introducing universal varicella vaccine in the pediatric immunization schedule is discussed. The expert group concludes that available evidence supports the active offer of varicella vaccine in all Italian Regions and that catch up programs for susceptible cohorts should be encouraged.
MORE INFORMATION
Area of Expertise
COVID-19
Coronavirus
Epidemiology
Hygiene
Hygiene and Hospice Technique
Hygiene and Safety in Workplaces
Preventive Medicine
Public Health
Vaccination
Vaccinations
Affiliation
Happy Ageing Alliance (Alleanza Italiana Per L’Invecchiamento in Salute)
Industry
Research
Education/Learning
Health and Wellness
Education
University of Bologna : Medicine and Surgery
University of Bari : Hygiene and Preventive Medicine
Media
Contact us
Telephone: +1 (416) 342-1655
Fax: +1 (416) 639-2165
1 Bridgepoint Drive, Suite G.238
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
M4M2B5
© 2024 International Federation on Ageing. All rights reserved.
