Sepsis

The sepsis diagnoses we code are used very specifically by Dr. Anand Kumar's research.

• Septic Shock - (ie sepsis with shock) is the priority code if present.
• Severe Sepsis - (sepsis with organ failure other than shock) is the next priority code. You can only use one or the other, not both.
• Septicemia - only means positive blood cultures. So it can be used with either other sepsis diagnosis (severe sepsis, septic shock) or with other infections (urosepsis, pneumonia, etc.). This confusing is why I’d originally suggested using the term bacteremia/fungemia instead of septicemia.

They should be coded as per the guidelines in their articles.

See also QA Septic Shock