A prospective survey of 1757 general surgical patients undergoing operation was performed comparing 35 patients with wound infection yielding methicillin‐resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) with 184 patients developing wound infections due to other organisms. The following parameters were statistically significantly increased in the patients with MRSA wound infection; MRSA infection or colonization at other sites, 37% versus 2%, severe wound infection 31% versus 12%, wound drain tubes 23% versus 10%, multiple operations 37% versus 6%. malignant disease 43% versus 23%, postoperative complications 46% versus 16%, intensive care admissions 23% versus 5% and prophylactic antibiotics 51% versus 30%. There was no difference in postoperative mortality 11% versus 7%; mean age, 58 years versus 56 years; sex; diabetes, 11% versus 9%; or emergency operations 40% versus 39%. There were 18 patients with single organism MRSA wound infection who were compared with 35 patients with single organism methicillin‐sensitiveS. aureus(MSSA) wound infection. The patients with MRSA wound infections had a statistically significant increase in the following parameters: mean preoperative stay in hospital 8 days versus 4 days; prophylactic antibiotics 39% versus 3%; MRSA infection or colonization at other sites 39% versus 6%; and malignant disease 44% versus 17%. There were no deaths in either group and there was no statistically significant difference in other parameters, namely, multiple operations 11% versus 3%; intensive care admissions 6% in each group; wound drain tube 17% versus 11%; severe infections 22% versus 6%; and postoperative complications 22%) versus 9%. These latter parameters were statistically significantly increased when all MRSA wound infections were compared with all wound infections due to other organi