The condition of Unnao rape survivor, who was shifted to AIIMS Trauma centre from Lucknow’s King George’s Medical University, remains to be critical as she battles severe blood infection. The infection has rendered six of the seven antibiotics given to her ineffective.

The report of a blood culture examination of the girl showed she has serious infection in her blood. The report came after she was shifted to AIIMS in Delhi on August 5 after the July 28 truck-car collision that killed two of her aunts and left her lawyer fighting for life.

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According to Sandeep Tiwari in Lucknow, the rape survivor’s blood culture report shows that she was suffering from enterococcous bacteria. Enterococci are a type of bacteria that live in the gastrointestinal tract of humans. There are at least 18 different species of these bacteria. Enterococcous faecalis (E. faecalis) is one of the most common species. These bacteria also live in the mouth and vagina. They are very resilient, so they can survive in hot, salty or acidic environments. Doctors said that if it spreads to other areas of the body, it may cause life-threatening infections.

Patients who have underlying health conditions are also at a higher risk of developing the infection. People in hospital settings are particularly vulnerable to E. faecalis infection because hospitalized patients tend to have reduced immunity.

The common use of intravascular and urinary catheter devices can also contribute to the spread of infection as these instruments frequently harbour the E. faecalis bacteria.

The rape survivor and her lawyer have sustained serious injuries after the July 28 car accident. The victim’s family allege the accident was planned by the prime accused and former BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar.

The accident attracted national attention after which the Supreme Court ordered to transfer all the cases related to Unnao rape to Delhi.

The CBI has registered a case against expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar and nine other accused under criminal conspiracy, murder, attempt to murder and criminal intimidation in the accident case. The Unnao district administration also cancelled three arms licences which belonged to the rape and murder accused MLA.