Hand hygiene is now regarded as one of the most effective ways of preventing nosocomial infection, while the compliance of hand hygiene is not high enough which makes it possible to transfer the organisms by hands in the process of medical works in hospital. As a result, it leads to the growing increase of the nosocomial infection. The author reviewed the reports domestic and overseas to gain a comprehensive understanding of hand hygiene practices and the real compliance of hand hygiene, also to evaluate the relationship between the hand hygiene practices of health care workers and nosocomial infection, trying to discuss series of ideas which are scientific and practicable in order to reduce the nosocomial infection and cost of medicine.