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Control of infection in a surgical wound remains a challenge, especially if further surgery in the area is needed. This study was designed to compare the effectiveness of sterilization of a standard experimental infected wound by surgical skin preparation (Betadine) as compared to treatment with the CO2 laser. Standard wounds (5 x 6 cm) were created superficial to the panniculus carnosus on each flank of 37 adult male New Zealand rabbits. Each wound was infected with a standard dose of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. All wounds became grossly infected. On the third day one flank wound was treated with the CO2 laser, the other with the Betadine solution, and a punch biopsy (4 mm) was taken from each wound for quantitative bacterial counts. Less than 10% of the laser-treated wounds grew Pseudomonas, whereas nearly 40% of the iodine-treated wounds remained infected (P less than 0.005). Our early clinical experience using the CO2 laser for the sterilization of infected wounds is also reported.