Question: I read that surgical site infection rates in some countries can approach 30 percent. Are there sutures that could detect an infection early enough, so the patient could seek medical attention? Kentucky Subscriber Answer: There are sutures coated with a conductive material capable of sensing electrical resistance changes in a surgical wound. Information of the changes is relayed to the patient’s or doctor’s smartphones and computers. These smart sutures are helpful but may not be the best solution for areas of the world where internet and smartphone accessibility are factors. Recently, Dasia Taylor, a 17-year-old high school student in Iowa City, Iowa, developed surgical sutures that change color when a surgical wound becomes infected. She started working on the project in October 2019 after learning of state-wide science fairs from her chemistry teacher. When healthy, human skin boasts a pH around five, making it naturally acidic. However, when a wound develops an infection, the pH raises to approximately nine. To easily identify pH changes, you don’t need special additives, you can simply visit the produce aisle of your local grocery store. Taylor determined that beet juice changes color from bright red to dark purple when the pH reaches nine. She then tested 10 different suture materials to evaluate which thread would absorb and hold the dye, if the dye changed color correctly, and how the thickness compared to standard suture thread. Thread made of a cotton-polyester blend was Taylor’s choice, and after five minutes of exposure to a pH similar to an infection, the dyed thread changed color from bright red to dark purple. Plus, after three days, the color faded to a light gray. Taylor read about the smart sutures listed above. However, she felt there could be a more accessible option for people in low-and middle-income countries where 8 to 30 percent of surgical wounds become infected. As Taylor was developing her sutures, she won awards at several regional science fairs, and she was named one of 40 finalists for the Regeneron Science Talent Search this past January. While further testing is needed before the sutures could become a staple in surgical suites, Taylor does plan to patent her invention.