[Hygienic rituals and proposals for practical action].

For years hygiene rituals have been performed in hospitals without awareness of their sense or usefulness. The present study sets out to show that entrance mats with tacky or disinfectant surfaces, complete disinfection of the hospital and routine general disinfections can be dispensed with. Shortcomings in surgical hand disinfection, placing and care of drains, and rinsing of stomach probes are also pointed out. Modern proposals should be aimed at raising the standard of hygiene in our hospitals, with special emphasis on the time-honoured rule of Semmelweis regarding strict and permanently available hygienic disinfection for the hands.