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TV3

Deadly bacteria normally found in toilets was discovered in the microwave of these students

Meet Conor, Padraig, Brian and Paddy.

WE’VE ALL HEARD the dreaded stories about student accommodation with empty cans and pizza being the main decor (hey, you might even live in one – we’re not judging) but maybe think about cleaning your microwave.

Four students sharing a house in Athlone had E. coli festering in theirs – the bacteria can cause kidney failure and even death.

The four guys in their 20s are taking part in a TV3 documentary that looks at their unhealthy lifestyles and gives them a two month ‘lifestyle overhaul’.

The show’s doctors examined Conor, Padraig, Brian and Paddy and found serious health issues with hygiene, sexual health, poor diets and binge drinking.

One of students is addicted to sugar and video games while another is ‘a little too fond of his pints’.

TV3 says Doctor in the House aims to get households across Ireland thinking about their lifestyle – if that fails we’ll definitely be cleaning our microwaves anyway.

Doctor in the Houseon TV3 Ep5 - Students Microwave

Doctor Nina Byrnes found the E.Coli after sending a swab to the lab. Here’s how she gently breaks it to the lads:

At the very severe end of E. coli, there’s a particular strain of E. coli that can cause kidney failure and death and that was growing in your microwave.

“They’re the kind of bacteria you would usually see growing in a toilet.”

The four Athlone IT students are given an exercise programme and lifestyle overhaul “to pull them back from the brink of a life of bad habits and chronic illness” and are retested after 8 weeks.

Best of luck lads…the documentary is on tonight at 9pm.

Doctor in the House on TV3 The student and the doctors

Read: More than half of you wash raw chicken and that’s really dangerous>

Read: Is it better to keep bread in the fridge or a bread bin?>

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28 Comments
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    Mute Sam Bartell
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    Nov 10th 2014, 7:39 AM

    No excuse for that level of filth. Being a “student” does not give free rein to be a dirtbird. Rags and kitchen spray are cheap, they’re just shockingly lazy

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    Mute scarbouro
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    Nov 10th 2014, 11:33 AM

    Totally agree. Being a student doesn’t automatically mean it’s ok to lack basic hygiene. Pure laziness is all it is.

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    Mute Dermot Lane
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    Nov 10th 2014, 7:57 AM

    This is probably a stupid question, but would microwaves not kill the ecoli bacteria?

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    Mute Jonathan Bambury
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    Nov 10th 2014, 8:01 AM

    We will send him round to poo in your microwave and after you cook your dinner in it a few times you can test and let us know ……

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    Mute Dermot Lane
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    Nov 10th 2014, 8:02 AM

    I’d have to fry it in the pan, cos in don’t use a microwave.

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    Mute Inntalitarian
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    Nov 10th 2014, 8:04 AM

    Two minutes either side on medium high, thank me later.

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    Mute J. Dunn
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    Nov 10th 2014, 1:00 PM

    There are plenty of dead spots, in a microwave, where the waves never travel.

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    Mute john kinsella
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    Nov 10th 2014, 3:03 PM

    Not surprising the sh#t those students cook now.

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    Mute Tom Red
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    Nov 10th 2014, 7:46 AM

    Four very proud sets of parents out there.
    These lads need a full time carer each…

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    Mute Jonathan Bambury
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    Nov 10th 2014, 7:36 AM

    Jeez the phantom shitter hit the microwave ….. nothing is safe anymore

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    Mute Inntalitarian
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    Nov 10th 2014, 7:47 AM

    Bet they’re doing IT/Engineering, some other course with no female contact and hygiene is not relevant.

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    Mute Jonathan Bambury
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    Nov 10th 2014, 7:51 AM

    Statement of the year ….. ya only need to wash if there is a chance a girl may be close enough to smell ya …… pmsl.

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    Mute Stephen Gregg
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    Nov 10th 2014, 7:41 AM

    In it you’ll see mice wipe their feet on the way out of the house.

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    Mute Inntalitarian
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    Nov 10th 2014, 7:46 AM

    Absolute slobs

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    Mute Dan Byrne
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    Nov 10th 2014, 7:47 AM

    They look so proud

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    Mute Jack Delaney
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    Nov 10th 2014, 7:41 AM

    What were the students doing in the microwave!! Don’t they know how dangerous it can be in there? This is what happens when you send toilet bacteria to college!

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    Mute John Walsh
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    Nov 10th 2014, 7:57 AM

    Heating frozen food for the wrong times and not making sure the food is piping hot can cause ecoli can’t it? Its not like the lads are taking dumps in the microwave.

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    Mute Jonathan Bambury
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    Nov 10th 2014, 8:02 AM

    Ah don’t be coming in here with science and common sense and ruin the fun !!

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    Mute Tim Kearney
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    Nov 10th 2014, 7:32 AM

    College students sleeping walking again…

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    Mute Ahippo
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    Nov 10th 2014, 8:25 AM

    You cannot have an addiction to sugar, not all E. coli causes kidney failure (it lives in our guts all the time) and you don’t need a rag and kitchen spray to fix it as one idiot here suggests. Good basic hygiene, washing your hands, washing what you cook with and in and eat off as soon as you are finished with it, and wiping the kitchen down with a hot clean cloth. You should not be using antibacterial sprays. They help bugs build up resistance and then you are in real trouble.

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    Mute Joey English
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    Nov 10th 2014, 9:23 AM

    Would have to agree with you on the hand washing thing, E. coli has to come from somewhere and unfortunately that somewhere is generally the bum hole!

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    Mute Ross UAE
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    Nov 10th 2014, 8:50 AM

    These guys have nothing to smile about because it is the filthy state of their never cleaned microwave that lead to the presence of E. Col; and these are people with 3rd level education!

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    Mute conor hickey
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    Nov 10th 2014, 11:17 AM

    I won’t watch the show.

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    Mute Kizzi Yeates
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    Nov 10th 2014, 9:03 AM

    Cleaning is not necessary for some.

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    Mute Kizzi Yeates
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    Nov 10th 2014, 9:04 AM

    I’m guessing they come from a farming background . :)

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    Mute Derek Smalls
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    Nov 10th 2014, 7:39 AM
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    Mute Caroline Keenan
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    Nov 10th 2014, 10:29 AM

    It’s at times like this I’m grateful that my parents never bought a microwave

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    Mute Mark O'Hagan
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    Nov 10th 2014, 11:24 PM

    I hope that there isn’t a food science faculty anywhere near them.

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