Which of the following diseases is a healthcare worker at the greatest risk of developing following an exposure incident with blood from a needlestick injury?

A healthcare worker is at the greatest risk of developing Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection following an exposure incident involving blood from a needlestick injury. This is primarily due to the fact that HBV is highly infectious and can survive outside the body for several days, making it more likely to be transmitted through blood exposure compared to other viruses.

Hepatitis B is known for its ability to establish chronic infections, which can lead to serious complications like cirrhosis and liver cancer. The risk of HBV transmission from a needlestick injury is significantly higher than that of HIV or Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infections. Studies indicate that the risk of transmission after a needlestick injury with HBV-infected blood can be between 6% to 30%, whereas the risk for HIV is around 0.3%, and for HCV, it is about 1.8%.

While HTLV (Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus) is a concern, the transmission risk via needlestick injuries is not as high as it is for HBV. Therefore, the likelihood of acquiring HBV through a needlestick injury is a key factor that places healthcare workers at greater risk, emphasizing the importance of vaccination and adherence to safety