The prevention of perioperative infection requires an interplay of technical equipment, good surgical technique and proper attention to hygiene. The basis for this is a well-structured and well-organized department using well-known, generally practised routine procedures and solid, realistic time planning. The most important technique for supervising and optimizing behaviour (with regard to both operative technique and hygiene) is the example of "being there" ("inter-esse"). In this way, mistakes regarding details are noticed immediately. Moreover, the best form of quality control is a long-term, honest survey of infection statistics that is managed by one responsible person only. Above all, the infection statistics should detect factors predisposing to infection that can be modified by everyday staff attention. The protection of staff against infection is equally as important as the protection of patients. The question of whether routine perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis or treatment in trauma surgery is useful under the present conditions has not yet been answered.