In a prospective randomised double-blind controlled trial that involved 73 patients with non-invasive wound infections receiving local wound treatment, the effect of adjuvant systemic antibiotic therapy was compared with that of a placebo. On inspection, more wounds were assessed as clinically clean after administration of an antibiotic than after the placebo was given although this difference was not statistically significant. Microbiological evaluation, however, showed a significantly higher cure of sepsis and elimination of individual organisms (P less than 0.05) after antibiotic therapy. Furthermore, eradication of antibiotic-susceptible organisms was significantly greater than that of resistant organisms (P less than 0.005), indicating adequate penetration of antibiotic into the septic wound exudate. The results suggest that appropriate adjuvant systemic antibiotic therapy in the management of infected wounds promotes bacterial clearance and this may enhance healing of wounds.