The National Institute for Prevention and Health Education (INPES) regularly conducts surveys on the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and practices of the French population. In this context, the Nicolle survey, conducted in scientific collaboration with the French Institute for Public Health Surveillance (InVS), surveyed a representative sample of the general public, general practitioners, and pediatricians in 2006 regarding their perceptions of infectious diseases. The objective of this study was to assess their perceptions of nosocomial infections (NI) in order to be able to deliver a consistent and appropriate message. [article excerpt]