Alright, let's break down the question step by step to arrive at the solution.
The question asks: "Approximately how many deaths are due to healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) each year in the U.S.?"
We are given four possible options:
1. 500,000
2. 50,000
3. 20,000
4. 100,000
Now, we need to determine which of these options is the correct estimate for the annual number of deaths caused by HAIs in the U.S.
First, let's consider and rule out the unreasonable options based on typical statistical knowledge in the healthcare field:
- 500,000 deaths from HAIs each year seems excessively high, so it's unlikely to be correct.
- 20,000 deaths might be plausible, but it might be on the lower side given the impact of HAIs on public health.
This leaves us with two more plausible candidates:
- 50,000
- 100,000
Of these two, upon careful consideration and review of credible health metrics and studies, it appears that the correct and most widely accepted figure for the number of deaths due to HAIs in the U.S. annually is 100,000.
So, the correct answer is:
100,000
