Approximately how many needlestick injuries occur annually among U.S. hospital-based health care professionals?

• A. Over 200,000
• B. Over 384,000
• C. Over 600,000
• D. Over 1,000,000

Answer: (B)

This item assesses the estimated annual burden of needlestick injuries among hospital-based health care workers. The best-supported figure is about 384,000 injuries per year. This estimate comes from national surveillance and data synthesis by public health authorities (like CDC/NIOSH) that combine reports from hospitals across disciplines. Because many incidents go unreported, the true number is likely higher, but 384,000 remains the standard reference because it represents the best aggregated estimate available. The other numbers are farther from this well-established benchmark and don’t align with the most reliable national data: they either understate the recognized burden or exceed the range supported by surveillance data.