Smart or germ-a-phobe?

[quote]observer of nature3 wrote:

Gee if no one gets any trace of feces on their hands then I suppose you wouldn't mind if I served your food with unwashed hands after I had a movement!

Didn't think so! Try again.

[quote]

Why did I just know you were a burger flipper?

mayo clinic physician uses fecal transplant to treat C. diff. infections:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/clinical-updates/digestive-diseases/quick-inexpensive-90-percent-cure-rate

from the article:

But, he says, one therapy — fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT or fecal transplantation) — has proved highly effective at eradicating C. difficile infection and restoring a healthy gut microbiota.

"Patients with CDI are missing certain gut flora, usually as a result of antibiotic use," Dr. Orenstein explains. "I suspect some kind of signaling takes place between healthy bacteria and the mucosa of the gut, and without that signaling, C. difficile can take over. Restoring the missing flora seems to be the key."

also, consider that a newborn coming from the sterile environment of the womb somehow needs to acquire the microbiota that will colonize his or her gut & aid in the devo of a healthy immune system...how do you suppose that occurs? (birth canal happens to be mighty close to...well, you know).

sure you guys can criticize & make fun of my posts thinking i'm suggesting we fling poop around with our hands like monkeys. but just know that our obsession with cleanliness/hygiene is likely doing more harm than good in certain cases.

but then again what do i know, i just study & run a lab on this topic, you guys are the REAL experts, with your google searches and the like ;)

I stay away from dip at parties. I got a dose of norovirus from guacamole at a party once - along with about a third of the other attendees. Oh man did that blow - and I mean blow 'cause I was blowing liquid out of both ends like a geyser for two days.

observer of nature3 wrote:

I am actually surprised how many have such a lack of knowledge when it comes to hygiene. I thought contaminated lemon wedges in drinks was pretty common knowledge to those who read.

http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/lemon.asp

Did you actually read the Snopes article you linked to?

Except in your example, you were talking about eating uncooked Chicken and Hamburger. So the result is not an upset stomach but rather Salmonella and E. coli. Those two things will have you saying more than "that didn't settle so well".

People are not getting sick from tongs and spatulas.

I will differ to your knowledge on this and your last two posts were informative. However, the question, as one who is more knowledgeable than those of us not in the field, to answer is this:Are there any negative health risks to touching small amounts of feces obtained from a public bathroom?I would be most interested in your opinion.

immunology phd wrote:

also, consider that a newborn coming from the sterile environment of the womb somehow needs to acquire the microbiota that will colonize his or her gut & aid in the devo of a healthy immune system...how do you suppose that occurs? (birth canal happens to be mighty close to...well, you know).

sure you guys can criticize & make fun of my posts thinking i'm suggesting we fling poop around with our hands like monkeys. but just know that our obsession with cleanliness/hygiene is likely doing more harm than good in certain cases.

but then again what do i know, i just study & run a lab on this topic, you guys are the REAL experts, with your google searches and the like ;)

Actually you would be surprised at how many serious deseases that we have been exposed to, that our bodies effectively fight off with only minor or no symptoms.So yes you can be exposed to food poisoning without major symptoms. This of course would depend on how much you were exposed to and the shape of your immune system.

Greased Lightning wrote:

Except in your example, you were talking about eating uncooked Chicken and Hamburger. So the result is not an upset stomach but rather Salmonella and E. coli. Those two things will have you saying more than "that didn't settle so well".

People are not getting sick from tongs and spatulas.

I put my body through rigorous heavy training. This puts much stress on my body so I'm careful about doing things that enhances my health and increases my odds for successful accommodation to my increased work load.

I eat healthy, live a reasonably healthy lifestyle, and I avoid unnecessary exposure to germs. If I expect my body to perform well to training, why would I also risk exposing it to food poisoning? Sure it can fight off small amounts of Salmonella picked up from dirty utensils, but when there is no reason for it, why should it have to?

Make that "defer".

observer of nature3 wrote:

I put my body through rigorous heavy training. This puts much stress on my body so I'm careful about doing things that enhances my health and increases my odds for successful accommodation to my increased work load.

I eat healthy, live a reasonably healthy lifestyle, and I avoid unnecessary exposure to germs. If I expect my body to perform well to training, why would I also risk exposing it to food poisoning? Sure it can fight off small amounts of Salmonella picked up from dirty utensils, but when there is no reason for it, why should it have to?

The reason to do so is that people will not think you are paranoid freak trying to live in a bubble. That's why.

Of course there will be a number of posters here who will call you a germ-a-phobe.I think many here feel if you can't see a germ or if you haven't been sick from something that proves its fine.

projectile wrote:

I stay away from dip at parties. I got a dose of norovirus from guacamole at a party once - along with about a third of the other attendees. Oh man did that blow - and I mean blow 'cause I was blowing liquid out of both ends like a geyser for two days.

There is a time, and a place, and a way to do things. There are many situations when its best not to say anything. If its a friend, a simple "hey you need any help, could get you anything, bring you a new dish" Actually I might be a bit more socially connected and confidant than you because my friends know that I'm health conscious but I would never be afraid of the fears you mention.

Captain Oblivious wrote:

The reason to do so is that people will not think you are paranoid freak trying to live in a bubble. That's why.