Karen R. Jacobson MD, MPH
Associate Professor, Infectious Diseases
Associate Professor, Epidemiology
801 Massachusetts Ave | (617) 414-5213karen.jacobson@bmc.org
kjacobso@bu.edu
Sections
Infectious Diseases
Centers
Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research
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.
Education
Medicine, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Clinical Evaluation/Research, MPH, Harvard School of Public Health
Biology, BS, Yale University
Publications
Wijk M, Gausi K, Malatesta S, Weber SE, Court R, Myers B, Carney T, Parry CDH, Horsburgh CR, White LF, Wiesner L, Warren RM, Uren C, McIlleron H, Kloprogge F, Denti P, Jacobson KR. The impact of alcohol and illicit substance use on the pharmacokinetics of first-line TB drugs. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2024 Jul 10. PMID: 38985541.
Published on 7/1/2024Savinkina A, Muyindike W, Hahn JA, Emenyonu NI, Fatch R, Ngabirano C, Adong J, Jacobson KR, Linas BP. Strategies for isoniazid preventive therapy in HIV-positive patients who consume alcohol. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2024 Jul 01; 28(7):335-342. PMID: 38961548.
Published on 6/14/2024Farhat MR, Jacobson KR. For Tuberculosis, Not "To Screen or Not to Screen?" but "Who?" and "How?". Clin Infect Dis. 2024 Jun 14; 78(6):1677-1679. PMID: 38636953.
Published on 3/25/2024Marin MG, Wippel C, Quinones-Olvera N, Behruznia M, Jeffrey BM, Harris M, Mann BC, Rosenthal A, Jacobson KR, Warren RM, Li H, Meehan CJ, Farhat MR. Analysis of the limited M. tuberculosis accessory genome reveals potential pitfalls of pan-genome analysis approaches. bioRxiv. 2024 Mar 25. PMID: 38585972.
Published on 11/27/2023Shapiro 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.
Published on 10/10/2023Scott 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.
Published on 9/25/2023Kulkarni 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.
Published on 9/20/2023Mann 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.
Published on 8/1/2023Acuña-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.
Published on 7/3/2023Esmail 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.
Media Mentions
Published on 12/13/2022
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Is Five Days of COVID Isolation Enough? New BU Study Has Some Answers
Published on 12/9/2021
BU Scientists Are Prepared to Detect Omicron—and Other Variants
Published on 12/9/2021
Scientists race to define Omicron threat, worried about ‘surge upon a surge’
Published on 12/7/2021
Experts: Current tests detect Omicron variant, but transmissibility a concern
Published on 10/7/2021
Projected Long-Term Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Outcomes Associated With Hepatitis C Virus
View full list of 15 media mentions.