Health Alert
UPDATE: DPH CONCLUDES INVESTIGATION OF VANCOMYCIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS (VRSA) CASE IN DELAWARE

On April 14, 2010, Delaware’s Division of Public Health (DPH) announced the state’s first case of vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA), a rare infection which is resistant to treatment with many commonly used antibiotics.

DPH, in partnership with providers at 3 Delaware healthcare facilities at which the patient received care, tested contacts for possible person-to-person transmission of VRSA. All 76 persons tested were negative for VRSA colonization. These results are consistent with findings elsewhere, which have not found person-to-person transmission.

While there have been no documented cases of person-to-person transmission of VRSA, use of appropriate infection control practices (such as hand washing, use of barrier precautions) by healthcare personnel can reduce the spread of a variety of infections.

DPH would like to remind health care providers that judicious use of antibiotics will help to reduce the development and spread of resistant organisms such as VRSA.

For More Information

1. For detailed CDC guidelines for the control of VRSA please reference:
   http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/pdf/ar/visa_vrsa_guide.pdf
2. For more information on VRSA, please visit the CDC website at:
   http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_visavrsa.html
3. Delaware Division of Public Health, Bureau of Epidemiology can be contacted at: (302) 744-1033 or 1-888-295-5156.

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