Three bloodborne pathogens to which US healthcare workers are most likely to be exposed are ________________________.

Three bloodborne pathogens to which US healthcare workers are most likely to be exposed are ________________________.

• A. HIV, Hepatitis B virus, and Hepatitis C virus
• B. HIV, Hepatitis A, and Hepatitis C
• C. HBV, HCV, and Influenza
• D. HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B

Answer: (A)

When workers in healthcare are exposed to blood or body fluids, the main infection risks come from pathogens that spread through blood. The three most likely to be encountered are Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C virus, and human immunodeficiency virus. Hepatitis B is highly transmissible through percutaneous exposure and has a vaccine, which reduces risk for vaccinated workers. Hepatitis C is also commonly transmitted via blood exposure, though there is no vaccine. HIV is transmitted through blood and body fluids as well, and remains a critical concern due to the potential for infection after exposure, though it is less efficiently transmitted than HBV. Hepatitis A is mainly spread through the fecal-oral route and is not a typical bloodborne occupational risk. Influenza is a respiratory virus, not spread primarily through blood. Syphilis is mainly sexually transmitted and not a primary bloodborne exposure risk in typical healthcare settings.

When workers in healthcare are exposed to blood or body fluids, the main infection risks come from pathogens that spread through blood. The three most likely to be encountered are Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C virus, and human immunodeficiency virus. Hepatitis B is highly transmissible through percutaneous exposure and has a vaccine, which reduces risk for vaccinated workers. Hepatitis C is also commonly transmitted via blood exposure, though there is no vaccine. HIV is transmitted through blood and body fluids as well, and remains a critical concern due to the potential for infection after exposure, though it is less efficiently transmitted than HBV.

Hepatitis A is mainly spread through the fecal-oral route and is not a typical bloodborne occupational risk. Influenza is a respiratory virus, not spread primarily through blood. Syphilis is mainly sexually transmitted and not a primary bloodborne exposure risk in typical healthcare settings.