September 2, 2001

8:43 PM

It had to have been a fart....after reading this i will require any surgeon and staff that needs to work on me to stay away from beans the night before my procedure
posted by bas67 (18 comments total)

Surgeon 1: "What are you looking at? I didn't fart"
Patient's skin begins to decay
Surgeon 2: "Is that your final gas?"
Surgeon 3: "Wait.. wait this is better.. you are the weakest fart goodbye"
Surgeon 4: "I think we should vote Surgeon 1 off the island!"

I really don't know where that came from. I always imagined surgeons using bad pop humor.
posted by geoff. at 8:54 PM on September 2, 2001

Geez...whey don't they just blame the dog, like everyone else does?

Very bizarre...and as the "Fusili Jerry" episode stated, "One in a million shot!"
posted by davidmsc at 10:21 PM on September 2, 2001

You know the fact that this flesh eating bacteria was spread by farts should tell the medical staff to either get a toxin scan of their digestive track, stop farting directly on the patients,or simply wipe a little better. Geez, if this bacteria was so dangerous everyone with an cut or open wound would be shambling around like a leper. (which incidently might make the world alot more interesting)
posted by neon_slacker at 10:38 PM on September 2, 2001

Silent but deadly.
posted by pracowity at 11:28 PM on September 2, 2001

Did I miss some crucial information, or is this flesh eating bacteria really spread by farts? Like, is this a well-known scientific fact?
posted by kevspace at 11:57 PM on September 2, 2001

The Fart Experiment suggests that it might just be possible...
posted by southisup at 1:42 AM on September 3, 2001

As someone who has undergone a major surgery (kidney donor, FYI) in the past 2 months, this is not amusing at all. (and let's face it, I'm usually one of the wise-asses)

I personally wonder if this has to do more with some of the more antibiotic resistant strains, and therefore something more hazardous down the road.
posted by tj at 1:44 AM on September 3, 2001

From your ass to god's ear, kevspace - I'm kinda surprised by the mode of transmission too, but hey, if someone somewhere can figure out some kind of underwearial charcoal-and-weave-type filter system, then the problem would beget the solution, and they could keep the Tuesday Enchilada special on the cafeteria menu downstairs without anyone getting all eaten up about it.
posted by chicobangs at 2:01 AM on September 3, 2001

tj, your right. Over use and incorrect use of antibiotics, especially broad spectrum, along with antibacterial / antimicrobial dish cloths, chopping boards, cleaning fluids etc means even those of us who don't contribute to the cause still get to 'enjoy' the outcome. 1,2,3,4,5 and many more.
posted by southisup at 2:24 AM on September 3, 2001

I hope I never have to go to hospital; This CNN article is from 1997, about Staph infections becoming resistent to the =strongest= antibiotics we have... and these infections are almost always picked up at the hospital. Doing a search on terms like "staph infection" can cause one to feel very ill.

I go out of my way to find soap which has none of that antibiotic crap in it; if I were =really= paranoid about bacteria, I would be using bleach to clean up stuff. I'm pretty sure bleach is more effective against living things than any antibiotic is.
posted by meep at 2:59 AM on September 3, 2001

meep : Yes bleach is the best disenfectant around, even diluted to 10%, it is better than anything you can buy over the counter.
posted by bjgeiger at 5:28 AM on September 3, 2001

And it tastes good.
posted by pracowity at 5:45 AM on September 3, 2001

Should this be part of the required unfiform for a surgeon?
posted by skwm at 6:52 AM on September 3, 2001

Beward the sounds that accompany skwm's post. I just found out the hard way.
posted by mtevis at 9:59 AM on September 3, 2001

Well, I guess it's a good thing I never became a surgeon....I'da killed a whole mess o' folks by now. Pass me some more of that barbecue.....
posted by briank at 1:08 PM on September 3, 2001

P.S.

The article called the infection nescrotizing fasciitis, but I think they meant necrotizing.....unless there's something else they were checking in that OR :-)
posted by briank at 1:10 PM on September 3, 2001

I go out of my way to find soap which has none of that antibiotic crap in it

Actually that "antibiotic crap" doesn't kill existing germs on your hands, it just stops them from multiplying. I've seen people use the hand lotion variety instead of washing their hands. Not only are they recirculating dirt, feces, germs, etc they believe they're cleaner than someone who only washes their hands.
posted by skallas at 5:12 PM on September 3, 2001

I hope the hospital puts in a policy asking all doctors the time and quality of their last bowel movement before they can work on a patient. Perhaps they can have a good enema before lengthy surgery.
posted by Hildegarde at 9:58 PM on September 3, 2001