Savita’s level of infection was ‘exceedingly rare’

Savita Halappanavar had one of the most severe cases of septic abortion ever seen, an inquest has heard.

Tests showed that Mrs Halappanavar suffered multi-organ failure due to septic shock, a rare strain of the E.coli bug, and a miscarriage at 17 weeks gestation with severe chorioamnionitis, an infection of the foetal membranes.

She had been admitted to University Hospital Galway on Sunday, Oct 21, when an inevitable miscarriage was diagnosed, and died a week later in intensive care, four days after she delivered a dead foetus.