The popular notion that urine is sterile is a myth, new research finds. http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/05/23/confirmed-urine-is-not-sterile/

This is odd. We cultured bugs out of our own urine in my microbiology course some 45 years ago.

I certainly have known this for all that time and it is so simple it must have been done by plenty of others in that time and indeed it was a standard lab experiment for the course.

Aah..Did you do a CLEAN CATCH?

The protocol involves cleaning to sterilize the skin.
Start urinating and in MIDSTREAM collect some urine for culture.

All of that, plus the rest of the best practice for such sampling. It was a university microbiology degree course so we were not just playing at it.

I recall mention that the only sterile urine is that first passed by a newborn baby.

I am at a loss to understand why urine should be considered sterile. How do people explain how one can get a bladder infection. If that bug can get in so may others.

I assume this relates to the business of flushing a wound with one's own urine?

I can certainly attest that the vigorous flushing of wounds (with soap and reasonably clean water) speeds healing and reduces/prevents infections. 10x more effective than chemical sterilants alone, IME.

The question isn't whether urine is sterile (of course it's not). The question is whether or not flushing a wound with urine, in the absence of any other reasonable option, might be more beneficial than not flushing at all.

The use of urine for this purpose is is stuff of legend, of course, as best practice (?) for WWII POW's in jungle environments. My understanding is that open wounds in jungles are instantly infected by a wide range of dangerous nasties. In this extreme case, I can see where vigorous flushing with whatever you have might be the best option (and only option, which makes it easier to choose).

I don't know that that question of benefit vs. harm can be answered with certainty. Too many variables. I am glad that I have never had to do this, but I would if I needed to.

When in civilized locations I generally try to confine my urination to proper restrooms. When out in the boonies, I usually just urinate on the ground. In neither case is sterility of urine (or lack of therof) an issue. However, in both situations I gennerally try to avoid peeing into my wounds. But that's just me.

I hope this comment doesn't p!ss anyone off?

Mind the breeze, my friend. Blowback respects neither age nor beauty.

Question the intelligence of applying a solution, which one's body is trying to excrete.

I would think that the fact that if urine can carry and transfer disease would be ample proof that it is not sterile.

I believe the rumor was spread by the " Modern Primitive" and piercing communities.It related to certain descrete piercings as being self cleaning generally.....

Boatman
John