In simple words: This code indicates that a specific type of E. coli bacteria, which produces harmful toxins, is causing an illness.It's used in addition to another code that describes the illness itself.

This code identifies the presence of a specific Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) bacteria, other than O157, as the cause of a disease classified elsewhere.STEC bacteria produce Shiga toxins, which are a key factor in the development of illnesses, sometimes including hemolytic uremic syndrome (a type of kidney failure).This code is used as a supplementary code to provide further detail about the causative agent of the primary disease and should not be used as the principal diagnosis.

Example 1: A patient presents with bloody diarrhea and is diagnosed with enterohemorrhagic colitis. Lab tests confirm the presence of a non-O157 STEC.Codes A04.3 (Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli infection) and B96.22 would be used., A patient with a urinary tract infection is found to have a non-O157 STEC. The appropriate codes would be the code for the UTI (e.g., N30.00, Acute cystitis without hematuria) and B96.22., A patient develops hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) following a gastrointestinal infection.A non-O157 STEC is identified as the cause. Codes D59.3 (Hemolytic-uremic syndrome) and B96.22 would be used.

Documentation should include the diagnosis of the disease caused by the STEC bacteria and laboratory confirmation of the specific non-O157 STEC.

** It is essential to differentiate between STEC O157 (B96.21) and other specified STEC (B96.22) due to the potential severity of STEC-related illnesses.Public health reporting may be required for STEC infections.