Cutaneous nocardiosis

This code identifies a bacterial infection of the skin caused by Nocardia species. It typically presents as skin lesions, abscesses, or cellulitis, often following direct inoculation through trauma. The infection can be localized or spread to subcutaneous tissues.

Assign this code when documentation confirms a diagnosis of nocardiosis specifically affecting the skin. This includes conditions like cutaneous abscesses, cellulitis, or granulomas where Nocardia is identified as the causative agent. Supporting documentation should include microbiology reports confirming Nocardia and a physician's diagnosis of cutaneous involvement.

• Differentiate from systemic nocardiosis (e.g., pulmonary, disseminated) which would be coded elsewhere.
• Look for specific mention of "cutaneous" or "skin" involvement in the diagnostic statement.
• Consider an additional code for the specific type of skin lesion (e.g., L02.x for cutaneous abscess) if documented.