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    OpenPayerBilling CodesOther bacterial diseasesICD-10-CM a48-other-bacterial-diseases
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    ICD-10-CM Code For Other Bacterial Diseases Not Elsewhere Classified: Group Overview

    The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code group A48 includes miscellaneous bacterial infections not classified elsewhere, such as less common systemic or localized bacterial diseases that do not fit under other specific bacterial categories. These ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes are used to document clinical scenarios where unusual bacterial pathogens or presentations require discrete coding, capturing disease severity, organ involvement, or clinical complexity relevant to this group. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-CM A48 group supports appropriate claim adjudication, complete clinical documentation, and correct assignment of reimbursement.

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    ICD-10-CM A48: Other Bacterial Diseases, Not Elsewhere Classified Overview

    The ICD-10-CM A48 code group represents a set of uncommon or atypical bacterial infections that are not classified elsewhere in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification. These conditions can affect various organ systems and often require specific clinical detail to distinguish from other infectious diseases. Accurate coding matters for proper documentation of clinical complexity and for reimbursement processes tied to diagnosis specificity.

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    When to Use

    Use a code from this group when a bacterial infection has been diagnosed but does not meet criteria for any other specific bacterial disease category in ICD-10-CM. These codes are appropriate when clinical documentation identifies an uncommon bacterial condition or presentation that cannot be coded elsewhere.

    ICD-10-CM Codes

    8 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    A48.0Gas gangrene
    A48.1Legionnaires' disease
    A48.2Nonpneumonic Legionnaires' disease [Pontiac fever]
    A48.3Toxic shock syndrome
    A48.4Brazilian purpuric fever
    A48.51Infant botulism
    A48.52Wound botulism
    A48.8Other specified bacterial diseases

    DRG Codes

    11 rows

    DRG CodeDescription
    177Respiratory Infections and Inflammations with MCC
    178Respiratory Infections and Inflammations with CC
    179Respiratory Infections and Inflammations without CC/MCC
    791Prematurity with Major Problems
    793Full Term Neonate with Major Problems
    867Other Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Diagnoses with MCC
    868Other Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Diagnoses with CC
    869Other Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Diagnoses without CC/MCC
    974HIV with Major Related Condition with MCC
    975HIV with Major Related Condition with CC
    976HIV with Major Related Condition without CC/MCC

    Typical Clinical Scenarios

    • An adult presents to the emergency department with sudden onset high fever, severe back pain, dysuria, and rigors. Urinalysis and blood cultures grow gram-positive cocci identified as pneumococcal infection causing acute pyelonephritis-like urinary tract involvement; the acute bacterial process is not one of the more common specified syndromes and requires an other-bacterial-disease code to capture the unusual systemic bacterial etiology. Typical codes: A48.1, A48.8
    • An elderly nursing home resident with advanced dementia develops a rapidly spreading superficial soft tissue infection after minor skin breakdown; wound cultures isolate Corynebacterium species producing erysipelas-like lesions uncharacteristic for typical streptococcal or staphylococcal infections. The clinician documents a specified uncommon bacterial skin disease that is not elsewhere classified, and an other bacterial disease code is used to reflect the atypical organism and presentation. Typical codes: A48.0, A48.8
    • A hospitalized patient with an indwelling central venous catheter develops persistent bloodstream infection despite standard therapy; microbiology identifies gram-negative rods causing septic thrombophlebitis localized to the catheter site and extending along the vessel. This complication of a device-associated bacteremia due to an uncommon bacterial pathogen is coded to capture the other bacterial disease as a comorbidity affecting inpatient management. Typical codes: A48.3, A48.8

    Related Codes

    A30-LEPROSY-HANSEN-S-DISEASE

    ICD-10-CM Code For Leprosy Hansen's Disease: Group Overview

    A31-INFECTION-DUE-TO-OTHER-MYCOBACTERIA

    ICD-10-CM Code For Infection Due To Other Mycobacteria: Group Overview

    A32-LISTERIOSIS

    ICD-10-CM Code For Listeriosis: Group Overview

    A33-TETANUS-NEONATORUM

    ICD-10-CM Code For Tetanus Neonatorum: Group Overview

    A34-OBSTETRICAL-TETANUS

    ICD-10-CM Code For Obstetrical Tetanus: Group Overview

    A35-OTHER-TETANUS

    ICD-10-CM Code For Other Tetanus: Group Overview

    A36-DIPHTHERIA

    ICD-10-CM Code For Diphtheria: Group Overview

    A37-WHOOPING-COUGH

    ICD-10-CM Code For Whooping Cough: Group Overview

    A38-SCARLET-FEVER

    ICD-10-CM Code For Scarlet Fever: Group Overview

    A39-MENINGOCOCCAL-INFECTION

    ICD-10-CM Code For Meningococcal Infection: Group Overview

    Showing 1–10 of 16

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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