Abstract
Purpose
St. John of the Cross (1542–1591) died aged 49 years after 3 months of excruciating pain following a trivial lesion in his right foot. Erysipelas, a superficial bacterial infection of the skin, and subsequent sepsis were previously suggested as the cause of his death. Here, an alternative diagnosis is proposed.
Methods
An accurate perusal of his biography allowed the symptomatology, the clinical evolution, the depth of the infection and the associated systemic manifestations displayed by Fray John to be reconstructed.
Results
St. John of the Cross developed cellulitis in the foot, which turned into a cutaneous abscess. To treat the toxaemia and inhibit further necrosis of the skin, excision of necrotic tissue and cauterization of the sores were performed to no avail. The infection burrowed through the fascial planes and reached the bones of the leg, leading to osteomyelitis.
Conclusions
In the absence of antibiotic treatments and proper antiseptic procedures, the soft-tissue infection spread deeper to the bones. It is not unconceivable that the surgery might have further promoted the spread of the bacteria giving rise to the secondary sepsis that led to St. John’s premature death.
References
Crisogono di Gesù P. Vita di S. Giovanni della Croce, Dottore Mistico. Traduzione dallo spagnolo del P. Ferdinando di S. Maria, O.C.D. Roma: Postulazione Generale dei Carmelitani Scalzi. 1984 pp 415–425.
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Zimmerman B. “St. John of the Cross.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 8. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 1910.
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Acknowledgements
Raffaella Bianucci is funded by Wellcome Trust (202792/Z/16/Z) but the work was independent of it. Otto Appenzeller is supported by the New Mexico Health Enhancement and Marathon Clinics Research. Foundation, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
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Bianucci, R., Appenzeller, O., Evans, P. et al. Soft-tissue infection secondary to cellulitis killed St. John of the Cross (1542–1591). Infection 46, 267–269 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-017-1089-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-017-1089-x