The Statewide Program for Infection Control and Epidemiology
(SPICE) promotes prevention and control of health care associated infections in
North Carolina and beyond by providing evidence based education and
consultation across the healthcare spectrum. Located at the University of North
Carolina School of Medicine, SPICE has provided infection control education and
consultation for more than 30 years under the direction of Dr. Bill Rutala.
SPICE
is charged with administering the education component of 10A North Carolina
Administrative Code 41A.0206 which requires all healthcare facilities that
perform invasive procedures to designate a staff person to be trained in
infection control. The SPICE website (spice.unc.edu) serves as an infection
control information clearinghouse, and also highlights SPICE educational
programming.
In calendar 2012, SPICE provided 554 phone/email
consultations. We encourage your infection control questions, and respond promptly
by email or phone. The best communication route is to click on the Ask SPICE link on our home page.
Other SPICE activities include four classroom
courses on infection control for long term care and acute care settings, development
of an on-line infection control curriculum for all nursing home staff, and
currently, revision of SPICE .0206 on-line courses for outpatient, dental, and
home health/hospice settings.
