2025 ICD-10-CM code A04.8
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Certain infectious and parasitic diseases - Intestinal infectious diseases 1 Feed
Other specified bacterial intestinal infections.
Medical necessity for A04.8 is established by the presence of clinical signs and symptoms consistent with a bacterial intestinal infection, supported by laboratory findings confirming the infection. The documentation should clearly link the symptoms and diagnostic results to establish the need for medical intervention.
Clinicians should consider the various possible bacterial causes of intestinal infections and conduct appropriate diagnostic tests, such as stool cultures, to identify the specific pathogen. Treatment typically involves rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids and, in severe cases, antibiotics.It is crucial to monitor the patient for complications like dehydration, seizures, and hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), which may require additional interventions.
In simple words: This code is used when someone has a bacterial infection in their intestines that isn't caused by food poisoning or tuberculosis, and it's not one of the more specific types of bacterial infections already listed in the ICD-10-CM codebook. It's a general category for other less common bacterial intestinal infections.
Other bacterial intestinal infections. This code represents a type of bacterial intestinal infection that is not represented by another code in this category.Excludes1: bacterial foodborne intoxications, NEC (A05.-) and tuberculous enteritis (A18.32).
Example 1: A patient presents with diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. Stool culture reveals the presence of Aeromonas, a type of bacteria not otherwise specified in the A04 category. The diagnosis A04.8 is assigned., A child experiences persistent diarrhea after swimming in a lake. Laboratory tests identify Plesiomonas shigelloides as the causative agent.Since this specific infection is not listed in the tabular list under A04, code A04.8 is used., An individual develops severe gastroenteritis following consumption of contaminated water.Diagnostic testing confirms bacterial infection caused by a non-typhoidal Salmonella species not explicitly categorized under A02.The physician documents the diagnosis as “other specified bacterial intestinal infection” and uses code A04.8.
Documentation should include signs and symptoms, such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Laboratory test results confirming bacterial infection and identifying the specific pathogen (if possible) are essential for accurate coding. Any associated complications, like dehydration or HUS, should also be documented. The documentation must demonstrate medical necessity.
** Always ensure the documentation clearly supports the specific bacterial infection diagnosed.If the infection is due to a specific pathogen listed elsewhere in the ICD-10-CM codebook, use the more specific code instead of A04.8.
- Payment Status: Active
- Specialties:Infectious Disease, Gastroenterology, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Office, Emergency Room - Hospital, Home, Telehealth Provided in Patient’s Home, Telehealth Provided Other than in Patient’s Home