CANCELED: EMD Seminar Series: Karen Jacobson, MD, MPH - "Does Substance Use Drive Tuberculosis Transmission and Treatment Outcomes?”

Tuberculosis (TB) control efforts often overlook the critical role of high-risk behaviors, including alcohol and illicit drug use, in driving transmission and shaping treatment outcomes. This talk will explore the urgent need to recognize these behaviors as key contributors to TB burden and develop programs to engage affected populations. Current approaches rarely focus on these groups as drivers of TB transmission, and methods to measure their impact remain underutilized. I will discuss innovative strategies to address these gaps, including incorporating substance use metrics into studies, evaluating the influence of these factors on treatment outcomes, and leveraging respondent-driven sampling for recruitment combined with pathogen whole genome sequencing to find transmission links. Finally, we will highlight the inefficiency of community-wide screening in low-prevalence settings (<1%) and propose early intervention to interrupt transmission within high-risk populations. Our work underscores the potential of tailored, evidence-based strategies to enhance TB control and improve outcomes in vulnerable communities.

YSPH values inclusion and access for all participants.

If you have questions about accessibility or would like to request an accommodation, please contact Christina Ciarleglio at christina.ciarleglio@yale.edu.