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Although hospital hygiene has a long history in Italy it is necessary to reflect about it because of the innovation in healthcare systems and because of the evolution due to European Union related activities. Different traditions exist in European countries about hospital hygiene and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) adopted the term of "infection control and hospital hygiene" which includes all the engaged European healthcare professionals. We propose to modify hospital hygiene as "healthcare organisation hygiene" in order to focalise the attention to all care settings not only hospitals and to adopt the following definition: "all activities aimed to guarantee, in an appropriate, scientifically sound and efficient way, that structures and processes support healthcare practices in a safe comfortable and healthy environment both for patients, caregivers and healthcare workers". Hospital hygiene and its professionals, besides the long tradition, still remain a relevant pillar in guaranteeing quality and safety of healthcare in Italy.

This study was aimed at assessing eating habits among preadolescents living in Brianza, with a special focus on snacking' and breakfast' habits.The research was carried out in 12 post-primary schools in Brianza and included 802 students attending 43 different classes (49.3% males and 50.7% females; mean age:12.6 years). The research tool was an ad hoc questionnaire administered to the preadolescents attending school on the day of the research. Data were analyzed using program Epi Info 6.Many students (78.3%) had breakfast in the morning of the questionnaire's administration. Among those perceiving themselves as overweight, not having breakfast is more common than among others. This information is the opposite of what preadolescents say when inquired about their habit to have ''a good breakfast'': only 36.8% of the responders declare that it happens on a daily basis. As to snacking, 18.7% of the students declare to be used to having multiple snacking during the day; during school recess on the day of the survey, 39.9% of respondents declared that they had eaten various industrial snacks, while 27.4% had cakes or fresh bread, 1.2% both of them and 0.6% fruit. On a daily basis, 59.5% report to eat various and different fruits and 62.9% report the same when inquired about vegetables.Considering the importance of a correct nutrition during developmental age and the importance of the phase of adolescence in establishing permanent nutritional habits that will last life-long, it is thus an educational priority to help preadolescents to choose the best foods for their health and well being.

This study is aimed at assessing time dedicated to, motivation and involvement in physical activity on behalf of pre-adolescents. 802 students (49.3% boys and 50.7% girls; mean age: 12.6) attending 43 classes of 11 Brianza's post-elementary schools. A questionnaire was prepared and administered to the involved sample. Classes took part in this study through randomized selection and data were analyzed using program Epi Info 6. Most of the respondents (60.1%) stay involved in sport because "it makes me feel good" and 32.4% because sport is "enjoyable and entertaining". Pre-adolescents chose the sport in which they become engaged on the basis of personal inclination (40%), in order to share experiences and their free time with friends (15.4%); 13.7% declare to prefer sport to be practiced in team. (13.7%). The most practiced sport are: football (51.3% boys, 4.5% girls), volley (3.9%-36.4%), dance (0.8%-25.2%) e swimming (9.4%-14%). 80.8% in the sample practice physical activity in settings outside schools and, among these, 51.7% dedicate three or more hours weekly to extra-school activities. There are significant differences (p0.05) between males' and females' engagement in physical activity (mean value: 4.1 hours; males: 4.6 h, females: 3.5 h). Among pre-teens, 18% declare to be physically inactive at all; 15.7% do not take part in sport activities because afraid to be bullied or shamed by peers. Research show that males are significantly more involved in physical activity than females.