Using contact networks, administrative, and linked genomic data to understand tuberculosis transmission in BC

Tuberculosis (TB) is still a problem in British Columbia, with approximately 250 cases diagnosed each year. In order to meet the WHO’s goal of achieving TB pre-elimination by 2030, TB rates in BC need to decline at a faster rate, and a change in how we manage TB prevention and care in the province is needed. Fortunately, all TB-related laboratory, epidemiology, clinical, and public health activities are centralized at the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC). This provides a unique opportunity to harness this data to understand TB transmission in BC, which can in turn inform public health policy and action. This project, led by Drs. Jennifer Gardy and Matias Salibian-Barrera seeks to develop and implement a predictive analytics platform into the TB Services Program within the BCCDC. Specifically, it will explore whether features such as i) contact or transmission network properties (static or over time), ii) clinical/epidemiological/demographic attributes of early cases within a network, and/or iii) genomic data can be used to predict whether a newly diagnosed case is likely to lead to a sustained outbreak. In addition, the team will explore whether patterns of patient interaction with the healthcare system can be used to infer potentially undiagnosed TB infections.