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Ann Hefferin's cause of death explained

Freshman died of natural causes

Published: Saturday, October 1, 2011

Updated: Sunday, October 2, 2011 17:10

ann hefferin

Katie Dees/Central Florida Future

UCF freshman Ann Marie Hefferin died of natural causes, according to the report released Friday.

UCF freshman Ann Marie Hefferin died of natural causes, according to the report released Friday, Sept. 30, by the Orange-Osceola medical examiner's office.

The cause of the 18-year-old's untimely death was revealed to be sepsis syndrome caused by Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus) bacteremia, according to Chief Medical Examiner Jan C. Garavaglia's report.

The report came more than a month following her death. Initial autopsy results were inconclusive.

Hefferin died in the early morning hours of Aug. 25 after her roommates found her unresponsive in her Lake Claire dorm room and called emergency services around 4 a.m.

According to the 911 call and interviews conducted by UCF police, the new member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority drank alcohol at an unsanctioned party held by Sigma Chi in the on-campus fraternity house on the night of Aug. 24.

Garavaglia's report said toxicology testing revealed only naproxen and caffeine in her blood; there was only a trace amount of alcohol detected in her vitreous fluid.

The sepsis, commonly referred to as a type of blood poisoning, was one of rapid progression, according to Garavaglia's report.

Group B strep is common among newborns and can lead to pneumonia but typically shows no symptoms in adults. However, according to UCF Health Service's website, the bacteria can, in rare cases, lead to urinary tract infections, skin infections, pneumonia and serious bloodstream infections.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sepsis syndrome is also common among the elderly.

The rate of hospitalizations for septicemia or sepsis was much higher for those aged 65 and older (122.2 per 10,000 population) than for those younger than age 65 (9.5 per 10,000 population), according to a 2008 National Hospital Discharge Survey.

UCF police are still investigating Hefferin's death, but it's not known when the investigation will be completed.

UCF spokesman Grant Heston released a statement Friday expressing his condolences for those who knew Hefferin.

"Although the medical examiner's report explained what happened, it does not change the fact that this was a tragedy," Heston said in a release. "Our thoughts remain with Ann's family and friends."

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