The IMAGINE project was presented at the International Scientific Conference of Primary Care (ISCPC) held in Ljubljana, Slovenia, with a dedicated workshop introducing the project’s mission to improve antibiotic use in long-term care facilities (LTCFs).
The interactive session, titled “Improving Antibiotic Use in Long-Term Care Facilities and Responsible Antibiotic Management”, was delivered by Davorina Petek from the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Ljubljana, along with Nina Sodja, a local IMAGINE project collaborator. The workshop was attended by 32 healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses from various healthcare sectors.
The session served as a valuable opportunity to broaden awareness about the IMAGINE project across different areas of healthcare.
“We are very pleased that the word of the IMAGINE project was spread out to different healthcare organizations,” said Nina Sodja. “Many of the attendees expressed a wish for such a project to be available for their working environment as well. The IMAGINE consortium has all the tools already published to be freely downloaded from the webpage, and shortly, different toolboxes will be created to implement IMAGINE at different scales in all institutions that wish to do so”.
Promoting change in antibiotic use and infection control
During the 90-minute workshop, participants were introduced to the project’s timeline, methodology, and the toolbox developed by the IMAGINE consortium. The interactive format included practical discussions on how to support infection prevention and implement sustainable antibiotic stewardship practices.
Each attendee received a printed copy of the toolbox to take back to their workplace. As Sodja noted, the team encouraged participants to “use it as they see fit in their own working environment,” enabling adaptation of the materials beyond LTCFs.
The Ljubljana workshop also introduced participants to the APO (Audit Project Odense) methodology, a structured approach for monitoring antibiotic use and identifying areas for improvement. Group discussions focused on strategies for implementing and sustaining meaningful changes in practice, even outside of traditional LTC settings.
“The workshop was a great success,” said Sodja. “It was encouraging to see that the IMAGINE message resonates with professionals in many different healthcare environments.”
By presenting at ISCPC, the IMAGINE team not only shared insights and tools but also fostered valuable cross-sector dialogue. As the project moves forward, such opportunities will continue to play a key role in expanding the reach and impact of its work to ensure better, safer, and more responsible antibiotic use across Europe.
