In her position as Full Professor of Microbiology at the School of Medicine of the University of Palermo, she has held the position of Head of the Reference Center for Legionella Control of Western Sicily since May 2011. Starting in February 2024, she has assumed the role of coordinating the Center’s activities. Her interest on Legionella-related issues began in the 1980s, initially focusing on the evaluation and application of diagnostic tests for the microbiological diagnosis of Legionnaires’ disease. Over time, her research expanded to include the molecular characterization of isolates and environmental control aspects, contributing to the development of local guidelines for the prevention and control of Legionnaires’ disease. She is an active member of the regional technical committee responsible for defining and implementing control measures and oversees training initiatives at both regional and hospital levels. She is also involved as a reference during outbreaks, providing evaluation and control measures.

Additionally, she has undertaken numerous management roles both within academic and hospital settings, as well as in various domains of research related to microbial pathogenicity, drug resistance, and microbiological diagnostics. The findings of her research have been published in internationally recognized scientific journals.