Recent epidemics such as SARS and the threat of an influenza pandemic have led authorities in many countries to promote a return to hygiene principles taught before the antibiotic era, including simple practices such as handwashing and covering one’s mouth when sneezing. The Nicolle survey, conducted by the National Institute for Prevention and Health Education and the Institute for Public Health Surveillance, provided an opportunity to assess the hygiene practices of the general population with a view to preventing infectious diseases.