2025 ICD-10-CM code A41.0
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Infectious and Parasitic Diseases - Other bacterial diseases Certain infectious and parasitic diseases Feed
Sepsis due to Staphylococcus aureus.
Medical necessity for treatment of sepsis due to S. aureus is established by the presence of clinical signs and symptoms consistent with sepsis, along with laboratory confirmation of the infection. Documentation must support the severity of the condition and the need for medical intervention.
Clinicians are responsible for diagnosing and managing sepsis due to S. aureus. This includes obtaining cultures, initiating appropriate antibiotic therapy, providing supportive care (e.g., fluids, vasopressors), and monitoring organ function.Source control, such as drainage of abscesses, is crucial.
In simple words: Sepsis due to Staphylococcus aureus is a life-threatening condition where the body overreacts to a staph infection in the blood.It can cause fever, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, and organ damage.
Sepsis due to Staphylococcus aureus is a serious condition characterized by a systemic inflammatory response to the presence of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria or their toxins in the bloodstream.It can manifest with a wide range of symptoms, from mild fever and rapid heart rate to severe organ dysfunction and septic shock.
Example 1: A patient presents with fever, hypotension, and tachycardia after a surgical procedure. Blood cultures grow methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). The patient is diagnosed with sepsis due to MSSA and treated with appropriate antibiotics., An individual with a history of intravenous drug use develops fever, chills, and a new heart murmur.Blood cultures reveal MRSA.Echocardiography confirms endocarditis. The patient receives intravenous vancomycin and other supportive measures for MRSA sepsis and endocarditis., A nursing home resident with an indwelling urinary catheter develops confusion, fever, and leukocytosis.Urine and blood cultures are positive for Staphylococcus aureus.The diagnosis is sepsis due to S. aureus originating from a urinary tract infection.The catheter is removed, and targeted antibiotic therapy is initiated.
Documentation should include the source of infection (if known), clinical findings (e.g., vital signs, mental status, laboratory results), and treatment provided.Positive blood cultures are typically required for definitive diagnosis. If MRSA is suspected or confirmed, this should be clearly documented.
- Specialties:Infectious Disease, Critical Care Medicine, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Surgery
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Emergency Room - Hospital, Skilled Nursing Facility