Malodor from a wound can produce psychological discomfort, embarrassment, and social isolation, as occurred with Philoctetes. Wounds infected with Pseudomonas can yield a fruity scent, whereas anaerobic bacteria emit a foul smell. The odor results from putrefying flesh and metabolic byproducts of organisms that have colonized the wound. Why Does Wound Odor Occur?įoul-smelling wounds are common in clinical situations, including necrotic or infected pressure injuries, tissue death related to diabetic or vascular ulcers, and malignant wounds. Once healed, Philoctetes participated in conquering Troy by hiding with a band of warriors inside the famed wooden horse, a feat that would not have been possible with a malodorous wound. Later, the Greeks realized they needed Philoctetes’ warrior skills to conquer Troy, and Odysseus sent soldiers to retrieve him and heal his wounds by using herbs. Philoctetes remained stranded on Lemnos with his nonhealing wound for 10 years and sustained himself by hunting with bow and arrow. The bite caused a chronic, painful wound that emitted such a foul odor that his fellow soldiers abandoned him on the deserted island of Lemnos. On the journey, his foot was bitten by a snake. Written by Sophocles in the fifth century BCE, Philoctetes (pronounced fil-ok-tee’-teez) was a warrior of outstanding marksmanship who set out to win the hand of Helen of Troy, considered the most beautiful woman in the world. The malodor that emanates from some wounds has been recognized throughout human history, as starkly demonstrated in the ancient Greek play named after the principal character, Philoctetes. Levine, MD, AGSF, CWSP Historical Aspects of Wound Odor
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