Established in 1980 with a contract between the NC Department of Health and Human Services and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Statewide Program for Infection Control and Epidemiology (SPICE) originally focused on tuberculosis management and the development of infection control programs at community hospitals. In 1988 long term care facilities, local health departments and other health care facilities became part of an expanded focus for SPICE. For over 40 years, SPICE has provided evidence based training and consultation to thousands of health care personnel in North Carolina.
10A North Carolina Administrative Code 41A.0206 and .0207 (formerly 15A NCAC 19A.0206 and .0207), approved by the North Carolina Commission for Health Services on August 5, 1992, requires one health care personnel in each health care facility in which invasive procedures are performed to have completed an approved infection control course. The Communicable Diseases Section of the North Carolina Department of Health administered this law for several years and then transferred administration to the North Carolina Statewide Program for Infection Control and Epidemiology (SPICE) in 1999. Since July 1, 2000, all infection control courses designed to meet the requirements of 10A North Carolina Administrative Code 41A .0206 must use the North Carolina Basic .0206 Infection Control Curriculum developed by SPICE.