Sepsis due to Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus

This code signifies a severe systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) caused by an infection with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). It indicates a life-threatening organ dysfunction resulting from the body's dysregulated response to the MRSA infection.

This code is appropriate when documentation explicitly states sepsis and identifies MRSA as the causative organism. It applies to cases where a patient presents with signs of sepsis (e.g., fever, tachycardia, altered mental status, organ dysfunction) and laboratory cultures confirm MRSA as the pathogen.

• Always sequence the code for the underlying infection (MRSA) first, followed by the sepsis code.
• Ensure documentation clearly links the sepsis to the MRSA infection; avoid using this code if the causative organism is not specified as MRSA.
• Do not confuse with severe sepsis or septic shock, which have their own distinct codes and require additional documentation of organ dysfunction or hypotension.