Wound swabs from surgical patients were studied from 1989 to 1991 to review the pattern of nosocomial infection in the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. The prevalence rate of nosocomial infection was 4.9%. The ratio of gram-negative to gram-positive organisms in wound infection was 3:1 with klebsiella species and Pseudomonas species emerging as the most important gram-negative organisms. Staphylococcus aureus was the single most prevalent organisms in surgical would infections. Recommendations on control measures are given.