Karen R. Jacobson, MD, MPH

Associate Professor, Medicine

Karen Jacobson

Biography

Dr. Karen Jacobson is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Section of Infectious Diseases, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, with a secondary appointment in the Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health. Dr. Jacobson’s research focuses on the epidemiology of tuberculosis, including identification of biological and social determinants of and risk factors for tuberculosis infection and disease (including drug resistant tuberculosis) and approaches for improving tuberculosis outcomes in resource-limited settings. Dr. Jacobson is the Medical Director of the Boston Medical Center Tuberculosis Clinic and has established a highly productive collaboration with researchers in Cape Town, South Africa. Her work has particular emphasis in understanding how substance use impacts on tuberculosis transmission and response to therapy.

Other Positions

  • Associate Professor, Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health
  • Member, Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research, Boston University

Education

  • Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, MD
  • Harvard School of Public Health, MPH
  • Yale University, BS

Publications

  • Published on 11/27/2023

    Shapiro AN, Scott L, Moultrie H, Jacobson KR, Bor J, Fofana AM, Dor G, Ndjeka NO, da Silva P, Mlisana K, Jenkins HE, Stevens WS. Tuberculosis testing patterns in South Africa to identify groups that would benefit from increased investigation. Sci Rep. 2023 Nov 27; 13(1):20875. PMID: 38012266.

    Read at: PubMed
  • Published on 10/10/2023

    Scott LE, Shapiro AN, Da Silva MP, Tsoka J, Jacobson KR, Emch M, Moultrie H, Jenkins HE, Moore D, Van Rie A, Stevens WS. Integrating Molecular Diagnostics and GIS Mapping: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Understanding Tuberculosis Disease Dynamics in South Africa Using Xpert MTB/RIF. Diagnostics (Basel). 2023 Oct 10; 13(20). PMID: 37891984.

    Read at: PubMed
  • Published on 9/25/2023

    Kulkarni S, Weber SE, Buys C, Lambrechts T, Myers B, Drainoni ML, Jacobson KR, Theron D, Carney T. Patient and provider perceptions of the relationship between alcohol use and TB and readiness for treatment: a qualitative study in South Africa. Res Sq. 2023 Sep 25. PMID: 37841852.

    Read at: PubMed
  • Published on 9/20/2023

    Mann BC, Jacobson KR, Ghebrekristos Y, Warren RM, Farhat MR. Assessment and validation of enrichment and target capture approaches to improve Mycobacterium tuberculosis WGS from direct patient samples. J Clin Microbiol. 2023 Oct 24; 61(10):e0038223. PMID: 37728909.

    Read at: PubMed
  • Published on 8/1/2023

    Acuña-Villaorduña C, Jacobson KR, Horsburgh CR, Canning M, Sinha P. Initial experience with BPaL-based regimens to treat multidrug-resistant TB. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2023 Aug 01; 27(8):649-650. PMID: 37491751.

    Read at: PubMed
  • Published on 7/3/2023

    Esmail H, Coussens AK, Thienemann F, Sossen B, Mukasa SL, Warwick J, Goliath RT, Davies NO, Douglass E, Jackson A, Lakay F, Streicher E, Munro JE, Barrios MH, Heinsohn T, Macpherson L, Sheerin D, Aziz S, Serole K, Daroowala R, Taliep A, Ahlers P, Malherbe ST, Bowden R, Warren R, Walzl G, Via LE, Bahlo M, Jacobson KR, Horsburgh CR, Salgame P, Alland D, Barry CE, Flynn JL, Ellner JJ, Wilkinson RJ. High resolution imaging and five-year tuberculosis contact outcomes. medRxiv. 2023 Jul 03. PMID: 37461515.

    Read at: PubMed
  • Published on 6/1/2023

    Myers B, Carney T, Rooney J, Malatesta S, Ragan EJ, White LF, Natcheva H, Bouton TC, Weber SE, Farhat M, McIlleron H, Theron D, Parry CDH, Horsburgh CR, Warren RM, Jacobson KR. Smoked drug use in patients with TB is associated with higher bacterial burden. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2023 Jun 01; 27(6):444-450. PMID: 37231597.

    Read at: PubMed
  • Published on 5/29/2023

    Hahn JA, Ngabirano C, Fatch R, Emenyonu NI, Cheng DM, Adong J, Tumwegamire A, Terrault NA, Linas BP, Jacobson KR, Muyindike WR. Safety and tolerability of isoniazid preventive therapy for tuberculosis for persons with HIV with and without alcohol use. AIDS. 2023 Aug 01; 37(10):1535-1543. PMID: 37260251.

    Read at: PubMed
  • Published on 4/10/2023

    Adeoye B, Nakiyingi L, Moreau Y, Nankya E, Olson AJ, Zhang M, Jacobson KR, Gupta A, Manabe YC, Hosseinipour MC, Kumwenda J, Sagar M. Mycobacterium tuberculosis disease associates with higher HIV-1-specific antibody responses. iScience. 2023 May 19; 26(5):106631. PMID: 37168567.

    Read at: PubMed
  • Published on 4/3/2023

    Sinha P, Jacobson KR, Horsburgh CR, Acuña-Villaorduña C. At Long Last: Short, All-Oral Regimens for Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis in the United States. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2023 Apr; 10(4):ofad177. PMID: 37125228.

    Read at: PubMed

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