DOVER, Del. (AP) — State public health officials are reporting Delaware's third case of a rare and potentially deadly infectious disease.
Officials said Monday that a 70-year-old New Castle County man has developed vancomycin (van-ko-MY-sin)-resistant staphylococcus (STAF-uh-lo-kaw-kus) aureus (AW-ree-us) infection, or VRSA.
VRSA is a type of antimicrobial-resistant staph bacteria. While the bacteria are resistant to vancomycin, other FDA-approved drugs have been shown to be effective in treating the infection.
Officials say people developing VRSA infections often have underlying health conditions such as diabetes or kidney disease, have had previous staph infections, had been hospitalized, or had tubes going into their bodies.
The first two cases in Delaware were reported in 2010. The Centers for Disease Control say only 13 cases have been reported nationwide since 2002.
