G12.2

Needle-stick experiment.Health care workers are at risk of being exposed to bloodborne pathogens through needle-sticks and other sharp object injuries. The pathogens of primary concern are the human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus. When a needle-stick occurs, workers report the incident to their supervisor. The information is forwarded to county health departments and ultimately the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). A CDC researcher uses these data to compare needle-stick injuries in community hospitals and tertiary-care hospitals. Is this a paired or independent comparison? Explain.