Meningococcal carditis, unspecified

This code signifies inflammation of the heart, specifically carditis, caused by a meningococcal infection, without further specification of the type of carditis (e.g., endocarditis, myocarditis, pericarditis). It indicates a systemic bacterial infection affecting the heart.

Use this code when the medical record explicitly documents meningococcal carditis, but the specific cardiac structure involved (e.g., endocardium, myocardium, pericardium) is not identified. Documentation should clearly state a meningococcal etiology for the carditis.

• Always attempt to query for a more specific type of carditis (e.g., endocarditis, myocarditis) if not documented.
• This code should be sequenced after the code for the underlying meningococcal infection (e.g., A39.0, A39.1) if applicable.
• Do not use this code if the carditis is due to a different infectious agent or is non-infectious.