Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Confirmed: Urine is not sterile
LiveScience via FoxNews ^ | 5-23-2014 | Stephanie Pappas

Posted on 05/26/2014 5:21:53 AM PDT by equalator

The popular notion that urine is sterile is a myth, new research finds.

Yes, the myth that comes up every time someone pees in a pool (or drinking water reservoir) is actually false. In fact, bacteria do live in urine, Loyola University researchers reported this week at the general meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in Boston. "We need to reassess everything we think we know about urine," study researcher Evann Hilt, a graduate student at Loyola, told Live Science.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Technical
KEYWORDS: science
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-57 next last
To: equalator

Any woman who has had to pee into a cup for tests can daily assure you that bacteria live in urine. The pre-pee instructions are copious to make sure you ‘get rid’ of the other bacteria that is floating around (wipe front to back wipe front to back)


21 posted on 05/26/2014 5:47:07 AM PDT by Nifster
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: equalator
The popular notion that urine is sterile is a myth, new research finds.

Popular notion? Among who? I've never met anyone who said urine was sterile.

22 posted on 05/26/2014 5:48:21 AM PDT by GreenHornet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: equalator; Gamecock

“Urine, you’re out!”


23 posted on 05/26/2014 5:54:21 AM PDT by Larry Lucido
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GreenHornet

You instinctually knew it in your mind to an extent


24 posted on 05/26/2014 5:54:50 AM PDT by equalator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: ClearCase_guy

Now one can understand why there is one study that says that x is good for you, and another that says that x is bad for you. They studied things with certain parameters that were different. There are usually endless possibilities to control, and you can’t control for all of them at once. You control for as many as you can think of and manage at a time. As in this case, no one bothered going any further than the basic criteria, until now. It’s a wonder this group got funding. Urine must not have been made a political issue yet.


25 posted on 05/26/2014 5:55:47 AM PDT by FamiliarFace
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: equalator
Dang, a mighty oak has fallen. The sterility of urine was pretty much the gold standard in common knowledge. It was the one factoid you could count on.
26 posted on 05/26/2014 5:56:00 AM PDT by Yardstick
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GreenHornet

I’ve never met anyone who said urine was sterile.


I heard it first from a physician (kidney specialist) who is now a tenured Ivy League medical professor.

Urine is normally essentially bacteria-free. Probably less likely to have bacteria than sweat, when considering public pool health factors.


27 posted on 05/26/2014 5:56:37 AM PDT by Freeping Since 2001 (Since 2001. Seriously.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Yardstick

I feel dirty now.


28 posted on 05/26/2014 5:56:54 AM PDT by equalator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Freeping Since 2001

In a non infected person, which is usually the case, your urine is sterile. It becomes contaminated after you urinate unless you obtain the urine thru a clean catch method.


29 posted on 05/26/2014 5:58:22 AM PDT by nikos1121
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Fightin Whitey

“Next thing you know they’ll be telling us boogers aren’t nutritious.”

But ear wax is! Demaggots eat it all the time.


30 posted on 05/26/2014 5:59:49 AM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ( Ya can't pick up a turd by the clean end!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Freeping Since 2001
Oh noes! Someone tell the Urban Beach Weekend guys quick!!


31 posted on 05/26/2014 5:59:56 AM PDT by equalator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Ouchthatonehurt; Gamecock; F15Eagle
“American Society for Microbiology in Boston. “

I wanna party with these folks.

I was a guest of honor at one of their affairs. I even gave an impromptu speech about the benefits of smoking urine in a pipe, but someone told me to stop the "pee-pipe talk."

Still, it was kind of cool sitting next to Mel Torme.

32 posted on 05/26/2014 6:01:28 AM PDT by Larry Lucido
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: EEGator
That was the first thought that crossed my mind when I read the headline.

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

33 posted on 05/26/2014 6:02:55 AM PDT by wku man (We are the 53%! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUXN0GDuLN4)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: equalator

Cool a chance to break out my new word.

CHUNDER BUCKET. It was a term used during the revolutionary war period. It came from the days when sailors vomited/crapped took a leak out portholes or overboard. They were expected to yell “Watch Under!” before letting it flow and that was contracted to chunder.

I saw it on “Turn” last night when they were having a drinking party.


34 posted on 05/26/2014 6:11:49 AM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: ClearCase_guy

When visiting Wisconsin Dells about 8 years ago, I saw a sign hanging above each urinal in the men’s bathroom.

Paraphrasing, it said: Wash your hands after you finish. It went on to say that while urine is sterile, it is the bacteria that live on the genitalia that are potentially harmful. It stated that urine was sometimes used in field surgery when water wasn’t available to clean wounds.

All of this was admonished and endorsed by a military person of significant rank, though I don’t remember whom or what rank now.


35 posted on 05/26/2014 6:34:48 AM PDT by jurroppi1 (The only thing you "pass to see what's in it" is a stool sample. h/t MrB)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Gamecock

Why not? Goes straight down the same drain as the toilet soon and is washed by a lot more fresh water than the toilet.

Anyway, human urine killes the fungus that causes athlete’s foot & toenail crud......


36 posted on 05/26/2014 6:37:52 AM PDT by Arlis
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: equalator

Wonder how many $millions that research cost the taxpayers?


37 posted on 05/26/2014 6:40:56 AM PDT by TomGuy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: equalator
I must disagree with this article based on my personal experience. Urine IS sterile if properly collected. On the other hand, if contaminated by skin flora, it is an excellent medium for the growth of bacteria. The main constituent of urine, other than water, is urea which is the waste product from the break down of proteins in the body. Urea can be metabolized to ammonia by many common bacteria which is what gives old or contaminated urine its offensive smell. Fresh urine or urine collected in a sterile container that has been refrigerated soon after passage does not have an objectionable odor, unless the patient has a UTI.

I was a medical technologist for five years and saw hundreds, maybe thousands, of urine cultures with no growth on them, even after they were incubated for 48 hours at body temperature. The media on which they are cultured includes a plate which contains sheep blood on which most anything (except Neisseria gonorrhoeae) will grow. I have spent the last 31 years teaching microbiology to Medical Laboratory Technology students and have never read or seen anything that would contradict the fact that properly collected urine contains no bacteria.

38 posted on 05/26/2014 7:11:02 AM PDT by srmorton (Deut. 30 19: "..I have set before you life and death,....therefore, choose life..")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: equalator

urine cause global warming.


39 posted on 05/26/2014 7:17:10 AM PDT by bikerman (Imagination is more important than intelligence)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: equalator; sakic

Actually that is not Kenya. That is a Dinka tribesman from South Sudan. Now, I know to most here it will not matter, and I am sure there are similar stupid (really stupid) pictures of Kenya and Kenyans one can find on the net - for instance Obama - but, for the sake of accuracy that is not Kenya.

40 posted on 05/26/2014 7:18:19 AM PDT by spetznaz (Nuclear-tipped Ballistic Missiles: The Ultimate Phallic Symbol)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-57 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson