West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd to Stay in Hospital Longer

Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.), who has been hospitalized since mid-May, has contracted a bacterial infection and will remain in the hospital for now, his office said yesterday.

"According to his doctors, Senator Byrd developed a staph infection during his initial hospitalization for treatment for a minor infection," a statement released by his office said. "This, in turn, has delayed his departure from the hospital at this time. Doctors have been treating him with antibiotics for the infection and he has been responding well. There has been no additional indication as to when he will be released from the hospital."

Byrd, 91, the longest-serving senator in U.S. history, was hospitalized with the initial infection May 15. On May 18, his spokesman suggested that Byrd would be home in a matter of days, but he has yet to be released. At the request of Byrd's family, his office has declined to say which hospital is treating him.

Byrd has been hospitalized several times in recent years with a variety of ailments. Last November, he gave up the chairmanship of the Appropriations Committee after his colleagues became concerned about his ability to manage the post.