h a l f b a k e r yOn the one hand, true. On the other hand, bollocks.
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Would a bacteria injection (or protein derivate) injected a few days before surgery boost the imune system and prevent nasty infections after surgery?
What they're doing ...
http://ajpregu.phys...ent/full/274/3/R741
... is basically what you're talking about. They're doing it to mice, in this instance. [dpsyplc, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 06 2004]
[link]
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Not an outrageous idea. Protein derivates of bacteria are used to boost immunity to this day (ie BCG). This sounds like the sort of thing folks were working on 100 years ago. |
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Hey, rubber, we’re supposed to ask the questions. |
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I think the issue is more that the immune system is suppressed by surgery (by the accompanying medications and by the shock to the system). People in this state often fall prey to things they would normally resist (remember Andy Warhol?). Sticking a cocktail of active bacteria into the system immediately beforehand seems highly risky. |
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I'm with the Doc, he should know! |
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I'm an engineer, not a doctor. (Always wanted to say that; more accurately, I'm a PhD, not an MD. I really wouldn't recommend relying on my medical expertise.) |
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The protein derivate would be dead bacteria. Or bacteria juice. |
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[bung: yeah, why I specified *active*. Dismembered, dead or impaired bacteria might well work as advertised.] |
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