The Smart Bandage Revolution: How DARPA’s BEST Program Aims to Outsmart Combat Wound Infections

Battlefield medicine is entering a new era—one where the greatest threat is no longer the initial trauma, but what follows in its wake. Infection has re-emerged as a decisive factor in combat survivability, particularly in high-intensity conflicts where evacuation timelines are uncertain and medical infrastructure is strained. Recent conflict data underscores the severity: infection rates…