Abstract
Appropriate hand washing and disinfection procedures among medical employees are one of the basic principles of preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAI), which can significantly extend hospitalization and generate higher costs. The aim of the study was to review the available literature on the sources and transmission of HAI in the context of medical staff hand hygiene, to evaluate, whether these procedures are performed correctly and whether the hands and nails contribute to the transmission of microorganisms in the hospital environment. Medical literature was searched in PubMed and Google Schoolar databases by entering appropriate keywords. The collected literature clearly show how important is the correct hand washing procedure, short and unpainted nails and no jewellry on the hands of hospital staff in breaking the chain of nosocomial infections.