Postoperative wound infections develop in approximately 2-5% of all patients after orthopedic surgery. After urinary tract infection and pneumonia, such wound infections (15%) are the third most frequent type of hospital-acquired infection. In this review we summarize all proven and unproven hygiene measures available in orthopedics, giving special attention to those implemented with the aim of preventing and controlling postoperative wound infections. Routine application only of hygiene procedures of proven efficacy will be an important contribution to economic and ecological quality assurance in hospital.