The incidence of postoperative wound infection after clean surgery in the four weeks following early discharge from hospital and its effect on community medical services have been studied prospectively. The wound infection rate as assessed by 118/155 patients who responded to a postoperative questionnaire was 9%; half of the wound problems presented after discharge. Postoperative wound infection increased the time spent by general practitioners per patient twofold, and that of practice/district nurses > or = fivefold.