Delaware health officials are reporting a confirmed case of Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA). The 67-year-old patient with extensive underlying health conditions is being treated on an outpatient basis. The patient is expected to recover at this time. VRSA is very rare and only seen in people with significant underlying health conditions. No person-to-person transmission has ever been documented in the United States (U.S).
Image/CDC
VRSA arises when a patient is infected with Staphylococcus aureus and the bacteria then mutate. The mutation (change) makes the bacteria resistant to Vancomycin, an antibiotic used to treat Staphylococcus aureus infections. VRSA infections are still treated with other antibiotics, but are relatively difficult to treat because the bacteria are also resistant to several other antibiotics, including the antibiotics in the penicillin and cephalosporin families.
A few existing factors predispose patients to VRSA infection, including: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (better known as “MRSA”) and Vancomycin-resistant enterococcal (VRE) infections or colonization; underlying conditions (such as chronic skin ulcers and diabetes) and previous treatment with Vancomycin, an antibiotic
On March 10, 2015, lab tests by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided confirmation of VRSA. The Delaware case represents only the 14th confirmed case of VRSA ever to be reported in this country. DPH previously reported three cases of VRSA-two in 2010 and one in 2012. At this time, DPH has no cause to believe there is a link between the cases.
Related: Delaware Man Is First NDM-Producing Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Case In US
Out of an excess of caution, the DPH Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology is investigating this case and possible contacts per CDC recommendation. Given that no known cases of person-to-person transmission have ever occurred in the U.S., the chance of additional cases related to this one are low.
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