Gonococcal sepsis

This code represents a severe, systemic infection caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae that has spread to the bloodstream, leading to sepsis. It indicates a life-threatening condition where the body's response to the gonococcal infection causes widespread inflammation and organ dysfunction.

Use this code when documentation clearly states a diagnosis of sepsis due to gonococcal infection. This typically occurs in patients presenting with signs of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in the presence of confirmed or highly suspected gonococcal bacteremia. Supporting documentation includes positive blood cultures for N. gonorrhoeae or clinical evidence of sepsis in a patient with a known gonococcal infection.

• Always sequence the code for sepsis first, followed by the code for the underlying gonococcal infection (e.g., A54.9 for unspecified gonococcal infection).
• Ensure documentation explicitly links the sepsis to the gonococcal etiology; avoid assuming the cause.
• Do not use this code for localized gonococcal infections without evidence of systemic involvement and sepsis.