In healthcare, the spread of HIV and hepatitis is most commonly traced to which risk factor?

• A. Airborne transmission
• B. Contaminated lunch areas
• C. Careless handling of sharps
• D. Improper hand hygiene

Answer: (C)

Spread of HIV and hepatitis in healthcare is driven by blood-to-blood contact, most often through injuries with contaminated sharps. When needles, scalpel blades, or other sharp instruments are not handled or disposed properly, a healthcare worker can suffer a percutaneous injury that introduces infected blood directly into the bloodstream. This direct route is why careless handling of sharps is the most important risk factor in clinical settings.

Airborne transmission is not a typical route for these viruses in medical environments, and contaminated lunch areas don’t reflect how these pathogens spread. While good hand hygiene is essential for preventing many infections, it doesn’t account for the primary mode here—direct inoculation of blood via sharps injuries.