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The objective was to know the principal risk factors that influence in the development of surgical would infection, and the economical saving achieved with the control of a single variable, that is, right prophylaxis. A prospective study was carried out at the Traumatology Department of La Paz Hospital. A total of 5260 patients operated during 1990-1993 are included. Active epidemiological surveillance was used to check patients; logistic regression was used in the multivariant analysis. The principal risk factors found were: immunodeficiency (OR = 8.67), incorrect healing (OR = 14.42), reoperated patient (patients who needed more than one surgical procedure while they are admitted; reoperations) (OR = 3.57), type of surgery (OR = 4.71) and wrong prophylaxis (OR = 6.36). Making constant all the variables except for prophylaxis, we calculated the percentage of infections prevented by a right prophylaxis, and the cost was calculated starting from the number of extra days of infection. The number of infections prevented during the four years was 310, saving a total of 194 million pesetas (1.5 million dollars), due to right prophylaxis. Cost-benefice ratio = 1/17. We consider of special importance to control this manipulable risk factor, in order to avoid the development of infections.