Pulmonary tularemia

This code represents a specific form of tularemia primarily affecting the lungs and respiratory system. It is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, characterized by pneumonia, pleurisy, and hilar lymphadenopathy. The infection typically results from inhalation of aerosolized bacteria or hematogenous spread from other sites of infection.

Assign this code when documentation clearly indicates a diagnosis of tularemia with pulmonary involvement. This includes cases where chest imaging reveals infiltrates, effusions, or lymphadenopathy consistent with lung infection, and laboratory confirmation of Francisella tularensis is present or strongly suspected. Use for patients presenting with respiratory symptoms such as cough, dyspnea, and chest pain in the context of tularemia exposure.

• Ensure documentation specifies pulmonary involvement; otherwise, a more general tularemia code may be appropriate.
• Consider sequencing this code as the primary diagnosis when pulmonary tularemia is the reason for the encounter.
• Review for any associated complications, such as pleural effusion or empyema, which may require additional coding.