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 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.
Culture reports
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:
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 |
Related Articles
Old coding
The pathogens are a list of possible entries that make up the sub-code for diagnoses categorized as Infection.
- Refer to: UPL - Universal Pathogen List, for a list of "bugs" we track.
- The pathogen subcodes are drawn from the table S_Pathogens table in CCMDB.mdb.
Culture reports (old)
Follow up all culture reports up to 5 days after discharge from unit. If pathogen is still not available then, enter Unknown Pathogen.
Special Codes
Could someone please fill in specifics about how or when these are to be used? Specifically, if we know specific bugs, are there any that should be coded implicitly even if there are others (ie precedence rules)?
Coding when antibiotics are given but no cultures
If there is evidence of an ongoing infection, even if no further culture code the previous pathogen.
If no culture is sent then we choose the subcode No Culture Sent or Resulted