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Maria Teresa Quiej Alvarez, one of the formerly conjoined twins separated at UCLA last year, has been upgraded from critical to serious condition.

She was moved out of the intensive care unit at the Hospital del Pilar in Guatemala City where she was being treated for E. Coli meningitis since April 15, according to Dr. Jorge Lazareff, director of pediatric neurosurgery at UCLA’s Mattel Children’s Hospital.

Her condition is rapidly improving with antibiotic treatments, according to Lazareff, who is in Guatemala.

Lazareff and two UCLA anesthesiologists traveled to Guatemala on April 28 to consult on Maria Teresa’s condition after being informed that Maria Teresa was being treated for an infection.

Dr. Ludwig Ovalle, medical director of Guatemala’s Pediatric Foundation, who invited Lazareff to fly to Guatemala, has been in charge of caring for Maria Teresa and Maria de Jesus since they returned to Guatemala in January of this year.

Doctors originally discovered a pump they inserted in Maria Teresa’s skull had become infected with E. Coli bacteria. They successfully removed the old pump, inserting a new device to keep liquid from pooling and putting pressure on her brain.

Since the separation surgery last August, Maria Teresa has recovered more slowly than her sister, Maria de Jesus.

Maria Teresa has required three additional surgeries to remove a buildup of blood in her brain. She also suffered hearing loss in one ear and wears a hearing aid.

Lazareff and the team of UCLA anesthesiologists were scheduled to return to Los Angeles Wednesday.

With reports from Daily Bruin wire services. For complete coverage, go to www.dailybruin.ucla.edu and click on “Extended Coverage.”