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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesComplications predominantly related to the puerperiumICD-10-CM o85-puerperal-sepsis
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    ICD-10-CM Code For Puerperal Sepsis: Group Overview

    The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code group O85 includes diagnoses for puerperal sepsis and related postpartum infections, covering systemic maternal sepsis and infections originating in the reproductive tract following delivery. These ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes are used to document postpartum infectious complications, capturing disease severity, systemic involvement, and clinical complexity relevant to maternal sepsis. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-CM O85 group supports proper claim adjudication, complete clinical documentation, and appropriate reimbursement.

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    ICD-10-CM O85: Puerperal Sepsis Overview

    The ICD-10-CM O85 group represents puerperal sepsis, serious infections that arise in the postpartum period and can involve systemic and local reproductive tract infection. These diagnoses target the postpartum period following delivery and associated infectious complications of the uterus and surrounding tissues. Accurate coding is important for capturing illness severity, guiding clinical documentation, and supporting appropriate reimbursement for postpartum care.

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    When to Use

    Use a code from this group when a patient develops sepsis or a significant infection originating in the reproductive tract during the postpartum period following delivery. Apply these codes to capture the clinical severity, systemic involvement, and need for additional inpatient or outpatient management related to postpartum infection.

    ICD-10-CM Codes

    1 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    O85Puerperal sepsis

    DRG Codes

    2 rows

    DRG CodeDescription
    769Postpartum and Post Abortion Diagnoses with O.R. Procedures
    776Postpartum and Post Abortion Diagnoses without O.R. Procedures

    Typical Clinical Scenarios

    • A postpartum woman presents to the emergency department 5 days after a vaginal delivery with fever, chills, lower abdominal pain, uterine tenderness on exam, and purulent lochia. Blood cultures are obtained and intravenous antibiotics are started for presumed puerperal infection; a diagnosis from this group is assigned because the infection is temporally related to the puerperium and involves the genital tract. Typical codes: O85.
    • A patient who had a cesarean delivery two weeks prior returns to clinic with increasing malaise, tachycardia, pelvic pain, and an expanding abdominal wall wound infection with purulent drainage; she is admitted for parenteral antibiotics and wound care due to postpartum infectious complication. A code from this group is used to capture sepsis originating in the puerperal period associated with the delivery. Typical codes: O85.
    • A postpartum patient with preexisting anemia and hypertension develops high fever, hypotension, and signs of organ dysfunction (elevated lactate, acute kidney injury) on postpartum day 7 after manual removal of retained placental tissue; she requires ICU care for severe sepsis secondary to uterine infection. This captures a severe puerperal infectious complication occurring after obstetric procedures during the puerperium. Typical codes: O85.

    Related Codes

    O86-OTHER-PUERPERAL-INFECTIONS

    ICD-10-CM Code For Other Puerperal Infections: Group Overview

    O87-VENOUS-COMPLICATIONS-AND-HEMORRHOIDS

    ICD-10-CM Code For Venous Complications And Hemorrhoids In The Puerperium: Group Overview

    O88-OBSTETRIC-EMBOLISM

    ICD-10-CM Code For Obstetric Embolism: Group Overview

    O89-COMPLICATIONS-OF-ANESTHESIA-DURING-THE-PUERPERIUM

    ICD-10-CM Code For Complications Of Anesthesia During The Puerperium: Group Overview

    O90-COMPLICATIONS-OF-THE-PUERPERIUM

    ICD-10-CM Code For Complications Of The Puerperium, Not Elsewhere Classified: Group Overview

    O91-INFECTIONS-OF-BREAST-ASSOCIATED-WITH-PREGNANCY

    ICD-10-CM Code For Infections Of Breast Associated With Pregnancy The Puerperium And Lactation: Group Overview

    O92-OTHER-DISORDERS-OF-BREAST

    ICD-10-CM Code For Other Disorders Of Breast And Disorders Of Lactation Associated With Pregnancy And The Puerperium: Group Overview

    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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