Needle Stick Injury

The correct answer is B.

Studies have shown that surgeons can readily acquire hepatitis B virus from patients. The risk of acquiring hepatitis B is significantly higher than the risk for HIV, and somewhat higher than the risk for hepatitis C. Thus, it is essential that health care workers be immunized against the hepatitis B virus.

The immunization schedule is for administration of the vaccine at 1, 2, and 6 months. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that post vaccination testing for antibodies be performed to identify an adequate response to the immunization. Individuals who do not demonstrate the formation of antibodies after the immunizations are given should be tested for hepatitis B surface antigen to ensure that they haven't already been infected. With immunization, the risk of acquiring hepatitis B from a needle stick injury is significantly lessened.

HIV (choice A) can be transmitted through needle-stick injury. However, the risk of this transmission is less than that of hepatitis B in individuals who have not been immunized.

Hepatitis C (choice C) appears to be more transmissible through needle-stick injury than HIV, but less transmissible than hepatitis B. However, because there is no immunization for hepatitis C available yet, and because the infection is so widespread in the population, the risk of transmission is of grave concern.

Scabies (choice D) is a skin parasite that is transmitted through physical contact.

Syphilis (choice E) is a sexually transmitted disease that is most often transmitted through sexual contact. Transmission through needle-stick injury is not a primary route.

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