The control of infections and maintenance of hygienic conditions are of central importance and the insights gained through several investigations have practical significance today. In contrast, the maintenance of environment and surface disinfection is still controversial and demands novel disinfectants to meet the required criteria. The healthcare centers are fraught with various microorganisms and serve as a point source for multidrug resistance in patients which is more critical to treat. Therefore, it has begun a comprehensive plan in hospitals to focus on disinfection and maintenance of hygiene which is not always appreciated. The urgency to determine the effectiveness of disinfectants is often questioned. The review article shows how the existing problems could be solved by a systematic approach and reports on effective evaluation studies that meet the requirements. © Carl Hanser Publisher, Munich