Bronchopneumonia, unspecified organism

This code represents an acute inflammatory process affecting the bronchioles and alveoli, characterized by patchy consolidation of the lung parenchyma. It signifies a form of pneumonia where the specific causative microorganism has not been identified or documented.

Assign this code when documentation clearly indicates bronchopneumonia without specifying the infectious agent. This is appropriate when laboratory results are pending, inconclusive, or not obtained, and the physician has not documented a more specific type of pneumonia.

• Do not use this code if the organism is known; instead, code to the specific organism (e.g., J13 for pneumococcal pneumonia).
• Review documentation carefully to ensure "bronchopneumonia" is explicitly stated, as opposed to other forms of pneumonia.
• Be mindful of the Excludes1 notes; avoid co-coding with hypostatic bronchopneumonia (J18.2) or lipid pneumonia (J69.1).