RESULTS
IMAGINE is an European initiative to strengthen infection prevention and control (IPC) and promote the rational use of antibiotics (AMS) in long-term care facilities across 8 pilot countries: Denmark, Spain, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia.
IMAGINE PROJECTE IS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING ANTIBIOTIC USE IN NURSING HOMES THROUGH INFECTION PREVENTION AND RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY – IMAGINE PROJECT
“Better care isn’t more expensive — it’s smarter.”
Infection prevention and responsible antibiotic use reduce patient suffering, optimize public resources, and strengthen Europe’s health resilience.
+100
Participating
nursing homes
>400
Health Care
Professionals
8
Represented
Countries
MULTIFACETED INTERVENTION
The IMAGINE project analysed over three years whether a multifaceted intervention improved infection prevention,
reduced UTIs, and optimised antibiotic use in care homesYour content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.
%
Reduction in urinary
tract infections after
intervention
Nursing, medical, and care professionals involved
MORE THAN
PEOPLE
%
Reduction in
inappropriate
prescriptions of antibiotic
Annual net savings across Europe
MILLIONS OF EUROS €
%
Increase of available resources
and hygiene measures for staff
%
Relative improvement in the use of a new apron for procedure
Relative improvement in hand hygiene before catheter
%
%
Relative improvement in visible instructions for handwashing
Estimated annual net savings across Europe, per euro (€) invested
EUROS (€) SAVED
%
Realtive increase of catheter connection disinfected
INNOVATIVE METHODOLOGY
The IMAGINE Project uses an innovative, multi-layered methodology:
- healthcare staff co-design best practices through Participatory Action Research (PAR)
- two audits measure impact on infection prevention and control (IPC) and antibiotic use (APO Audit), and
- a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) estimates costs and savings, ensuring measurable, cost-effective improvements.
Participatory action research began in January 2023.
Between February and April 2024, an initial audit was conducted using the APO audit and the IPC audit.
Between October and December 2024, participatory interventions were carried out in the geriatric care homes.
Between February and April 2025, the second APO and IPC audits were conducted.