Pathogens

The ICD10 Diagnosis List contains specific codes for a number of different bacteria, viruses, fungi/yeast, mycobacteria and miscellaneous types of organisms. The entire list can be found in category and subcategories:

Pathogens

• Bacteria
• Fungus
• Non-specific pathogens
• Virus

Pathogens are coded as their own diagnosis codes:

They are always entered as Combined ICD10 codes with an infection, but not all infections require pathogens. See Infections in ICD10 for more info.

Information about pathogens can be found in the patient's chart's Lab and culture reports; see that page for specific use instructions.

NOS pathogens

• In each of those categories there are a number of specific bugs with their own codes (e.g. B95.3 is Strep pneumoniae)
• But obviously we can't list every bug of any type, so for each of those categories there is also a "wastebasket" code for "NOS". For example, if the bug is a specific bacteria but it's not in our list, then use Bacteria, NOS, etc. These are:
  • Bacteria, NOS
  • Virus, NOS
  • Fungus or yeast, NOS
  • Nontuberculous mycobacteria
  • Other type of infectious organism, NOS

NOS vs Unknown in the context of pathogens

• We must distinguish NOS from unknown.
  • NOS means that we do know the bug, but it's not in our list of specific pathogens
  • Infectious organism, unknown means we assume that there IS in fact a pathogen, but we have no idea about it's actual identity.

Special Codes

• Not an Infection (ICD10 pathogen alternative) - included for cross checks when entering Category:Potential infections
• Infectious organism, unknown - eg for negative culture

Data Integrity Checks (automatic list)

	App	Status
Query check ICD10 Inf Potential Infection must have pathogen or alt	CCMDB.accdb	declined
Check Inf Antibiotic resistance must have pathogen or Infection with implied pathogen	CCMDB.accdb	implemented
Check Inf Infection with implied pathogen must not have a pathogen combined code	CCMDB.accdb	implemented
Query check ICD10 Inf Infection req Pathogen must have one	CCMDB.accdb	implemented
Query Check Inf Pathogens must have Infection requiring pathogen or Potential Infection	CCMDB.accdb	implemented