Arthritis due to other bacteria, unspecified shoulder

This code signifies an inflammatory joint condition affecting an unspecified shoulder, caused by a bacterial infection other than those specifically classified elsewhere (e.g., staphylococcal, streptococcal). It indicates a bacterial etiology for arthritis where the specific bacterial organism is not identified or documented.

Apply this code when documentation confirms bacterial arthritis of the shoulder, but the specific bacterial pathogen is not specified. This is appropriate when the physician has diagnosed bacterial arthritis, but culture results are pending, inconclusive, or not performed, and the infection is not attributed to a common, specified bacterium.

• Ensure the documentation explicitly states "bacterial arthritis" and specifies the "shoulder" as the affected joint.
• Avoid using this code if a more specific bacterial cause (e.g., staphylococcal, streptococcal) is documented; instead, use the appropriate M00.0-M00.2 code.
• If the specific bacteria is later identified, update the diagnosis to a more precise code from the M00.0-M00.2 series.