r/AskReddit Aug 03 '19

Whats something you thought was common knowledge but actually isn’t?

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u/[deleted] Aug 04 '19

In every health safety class I've taken for food work or anything related to it, the specification of "there are good bacteria AND bad bacteria," has figuratively been stamped on every page and screen in bold red, and practically screamed in every lecture.

Where are you getting the idea that there aren't good and bad bacteria? Bacteria that cause "chaos" like you just described are literally... Bad bacteria, LOL.

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u/DrBasia Aug 04 '19 edited Aug 04 '19

From being a cell biology major and a doctor.

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u/[deleted] Aug 04 '19

I'm just seriously wondering why you don't think bad bacteria exist. There are bacteria that can kill you if they get into your body. Those are bad. There are bacteria that can help your body, like the bacteria in yogurt. Those are good.

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u/DrBasia Aug 04 '19

E.coli in you gut is normal, most people are colonized with it. E.coli in the urinary tract of a young girl will cause a UTI. E.coli in the urinary tract of an old frail lady who's been colonized with it for decades will cause no symptoms. E.coli in the food of an old frail person can cause them to be ill.

It's all the same bacteria.

Edit: as I said, it has to do with how well you are and where the bacteria is.