In an analysis of 1,433 wounds created in 1,094 neonates admitted to a regional neonatal surgical unit during the period April 1975 to December 1987, the mean incidence of infection was 16.6%. During this time there was an increase in the incidence of infection from 12.5% in the first 6 years to 18.8% in the last 7 years (P < .01). Contaminated wounds had an infection rate of 20.7%, whereas the rate in clean wounds was 11.1% (P < .001). Gestational age and birth weight had no influence on the incidence of wound infection. Increasing wound length (P < .001), increasing duration of operation (P < .001), and contamination at operation (P < .001) were all associated with a higher incidence of infection. Staphylococcal species were the most frequently isolated organisms from all categories of infected wounds (clean, potential, and actual contamination).