Although rare in the UK, there are certain types of infective organisms that can cause chronic wounds. In these circumstances, conventional wound care is rarely successful and the causative organism needs to be targeted with specific therapy. Often, these organisms are contracted abroad and may be seen in returning travellers or immigrants. In addition, patients who are immunosuppressed are at risk of opportunistic infections. Thorough patient assessment is key to establish a diagnosis, but a high index of suspicion may also be needed. This article describes three cases in which unusual infective organisms were the principal cause of chronic wounds.