Hand hygiene is an important, practicable and cost-effective measure of reducing healthcare-associated infections. Healthcare-associated infections are complications in patient care which represent a danger for patient safety and a burden for the healthcare system, since they lead to the increase of mortality and morbidity, thus extending the patients stay in the hospital and the costs of their treatment. Despite the progress made in modern medicine, 5-10 % of the patients admitted in a hospital develop a healthcare-associated infection. Numerous studies conducted in developing countries reveal the infection rates in their hospitals are higher than those in the hospitals of developed countries. According to the results of research carried out over the past 40 years, the hands of healthcare workers have an important role in the transmission of healthcare-associated infections. The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed codes based on scientific evidence regarding hand hygiene, in order to support medical institutions in the improvement hand hygiene and reducing the number of healthcare-associated infections. The correct practice of hand hygiene in the clinical environment is a very effective method of preventing, controlling and reducing healthcare-associated infections. Increased compliance with hand hygiene can reduce the negative consequences and economic burden affecting the healthcare system. Educating health care workers on proper hand hygiene, which is also one of the more significant activities of the Infection Control Team, can reduce the rate of healthcare-associated infections.