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MMI Faculty

Kinga Kowalewska-Grochowska, MD

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Dept. of Medical Microbiology & Immunology
University of Alberta
Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry
2B3.09 Walter Mackenzie Centre
T6G 2H7 Edmonton, AB
Canada

Ph : (780) 407-8998/492-7585
Fx : (780) 492-7521
Em: kkowalew@ualberta.ca

Positions:

  • Professor, Dept. of Medical Microbiology & Immunology
  • Director Residency Training Program

 

Research:

My research interests focus on the application of medical microbiology to a clinical setting with a view to extend the benefits of science one step further into everyday's struggle with manifestations of disease. This embraces development and design of new diagnostic modalities, prediction of response to therapeutic measures and improving our understanding of biology and epidemiology of infections as they impact on the health and welfare of individual patients and the population as a whole.

My research focuses on the area of Medical Parasitology

I investigate biology and epidemiology of protozoan disease of humans, particularly emerging pathogens of the immunocompromised. There is still a paucity of information on parasitic diseases of Canadians, most exchange occurring by word of mouth. We have been fortunate to investigate and report a few of "Canadian firsts" hoping to increase awareness of these infections in our corner of the global village. I develop, test and improve diagnostic tools that allow earlier detection and treatment of these infections. I am currently in the process of evaluating the prevalence, biology and clinical presentation of new agents of diarrhea, Microsporidium spp. and Cyclospora spp. Another task I have just embarked upon is the mystery of dormant human infections by Pneumocystis carinii, an ubiquitous unicellular pathogen which can, under special conditions, cause severe pneumonia and multi-organ diseases in humans and animals.

My other area of research is infection of prosthetic devices in chronically sick patients. Plastic catheters and other artificial implants while beneficial for treatment, nutrition, etc., often become a medical problem per se. Microorganisms from the external environment gain access to these devices and, embedded in a thick layer of biofilm successfully evade the immune system and therapeutic attempts at eradication. Not only do they become a focus for further complications, but also challenge standard methods for diagnosis of such infections. My research looks into biology, pathophysiology and clinical expression as well as development of novel diagnosis modalities to improve our understanding of the disease and decrease morbidity and mortality.

 

Publications:

Click here for most recent publications

 

Selected Publications:

  1. Gourishankar S, Doucette K, Fenton J, Purych D, Kowalewska-Grochowska K, Preiksaitis J. The use of donor and recipient screening for toxoplasma in the era of universal trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis. Transplantation. 2008 Apr 15;85(7):980-5.

  2. Macadam SA, Mehling BM, Fanning A, Dufton JA, Kowalewska-Grochowska KT, Lennox P, Anzarut A, Rodrigues M. Nontuberculous mycobacterial breast implant infections. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2007 Jan;119(1):337-44.

  3. Tracz DM, Keelan M, Ahmed-Bentley J, Gibreel A, Kowalewska-Grochowska K, Taylor DE. pVir and bloody diarrhea in Campylobacter jejuni enteritis. Emerg Infect Dis. 2005 Jun;11(6):838-43.

  4. Honish L, Predy G, Hislop N, Chui L, Kowalewska-Grochowska K, Trottier L, Kreplin C, Zazulak I. An outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 hemorrhagic colitis associated with unpasteurized gouda cheese. Can J Public Health. 2005 May-Jun;96(3):182-4.

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