Pedagoška dejavnost

Postgraduate Course in Hospital Hygiene

The one-semester Postgraduate Course in Hospital Hygiene is designed for various groups of healthcare professionals:

• physicians from different specialties who encounter healthcare-associated infections in their work (for some specialties, the course is a mandatory part of the training programme);
• dentists;
• registered nurses, midwives, graduate healthcare professionals, physiotherapists, and sanitary engineers.

Attendance is mandatory for residents in clinical microbiology and infectious diseases as part of their specialist training. Funding is provided in accordance with the Regulation on the Amount of Funds for Specialisations for the Needs of the Public Health Service Network Provided from the Budget of the Republic of Slovenia

The guiding principle of the programme is the implementation of provisions on the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections, as set out in the Communicable Diseases Act.

Lecturers are recognised experts who present practical experiences and approaches to solving tasks in selected areas. Under the supervision of mentors, participants prepare seminar papers, carry out short projects, present them to other participants, and discuss the results. The programme also includes practical exercises and workshops in microbiology, personal protective equipment, hand hygiene in a broader context, communication, and other relevant topics.

Benefits of Participation

• The Postgraduate Course in Hospital Hygiene is included in the Course Catalogue of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
• The course has been awarded a micro-credential by the Centre for Lifelong Learning at the University of Ljubljana, granting participants 6 ECTS credits. The micro-credential provides formal recognition of advanced, current, and practical competences in the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections. It complements formal education, enhances professional recognition, and facilitates quicker demonstration of competence and career progression. The micro-credential is valid both nationally and throughout Europe.
• An application has been submitted to the Medical Chamber of Slovenia for the allocation of credit points for physicians as part of the licence renewal process.
• For registered nurses and midwives, the completed course is recognised as specialised knowledge in healthcare-associated infections by the Nurses and Midwives Association of Slovenia. An application has also been submitted for the approval of licence renewal credit points..

Core Course Content

• Pathogens causing healthcare-associated infections, development and monitoring of antimicrobial resistance, and prudent use of antibiotics.
• Disinfectants and sterilisation, maintenance of environmental hygiene, hand hygiene, and maintenance of equipment and instruments.
• Personal protective equipment, vaccination of healthcare workers, and measures in case of incidents.
• Recognition and management of epidemics and outbreaks.
• Specific features in different specialist areas and vulnerable populations (operating theatres and intensive care units, dialysis units, dental and physiotherapy practices, children, older adults, immunocompromised patients).
• Legislation and organisation of infection prevention and control in healthcare, economics and supervision, and communication.

Duration and Schedule

The course is held during the summer semester, typically from January to May. It includes at least 85 hours of lectures, 15 hours of practical exercises, and 30 hours of interactive work dedicated to seminar preparation and problem-solving tasks.

The course is generally offered once per year. The call for applications for the following academic year is published by the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, on its Lifelong Learning website.

 Participants’ Obligations

Attendance at lectures and practical sessions, preparation of a seminar paper, and completion of a final examination.

Study Literature

Lecture materials

Latest News

In September 2025, the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ljubljana published a call for applications for the Postgraduate Course in Hospital Hygiene, intended for all interested professional groups (physicians, dentists, registered nurses, midwives, graduate healthcare professionals, sanitary engineers, physiotherapists).

The course will take place in winter–spring 2026.

Required Application Documents

• Application form and a sponsor’s statement confirming payment of tuition fees.
• Curriculum vitae.
• Copy or scan of the diploma certificate.
• Copy or scan of the certificate of the professional certification exam.

Documents must be sent by regular mail to: Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia, (For the Postgraduate Course in Hospital Hygiene)

Applications are now closed. The call for the academic year 2026/27 is expected to be published in September 2026.

Tuition Fee: € 2,200 (VAT included).

Planned Lecture Dates

Venue: Center Rog, Trubarjeva 72, Ljubljana