Implications of Tobacco Use on Pathogen‐Driven Diseases: A Public Health and Policy Perspective

ABSTRACT The tobacco epidemic remains one of the most significant global public health challenges, responsible for over 8 million deaths annually, with a substantial portion occurring among non‐smokers exposed to second‐hand smoke. While cigarette smoking remains the most prevalent form of tobacco use worldwide, the rise of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and alternative tobacco products poses new and complex health risks. Beyond their well‐documented role in non‐communicable diseases such as cardiopulmonary dysfunction, respiratory disease, and cancer, tobacco products are increasingly implicated in susceptibility to infectious disease. This includes their potential to serve as reservoirs for microbial pathogens and their emerging role in altering the host microbiome, thereby undermining immune defenses. This article highlights the multifaceted pathways through which tobacco use exacerbates pathogen‐related disease risk, emphasizing the need for heightened awareness of these harms, particularly among younger populations. Furthermore, it underscores the importance of advancing methods to detect and mitigate microbial contaminants in tobacco products. Addressing these challenges requires an interdisciplinary approach that integrates microbiology, epidemiology, and public health to better understand and curb the infectious disease burden associated with tobacco use.