Shigella flexneri

This code identifies an infection caused specifically by Shigella flexneri, a gram-negative bacterium that is a common cause of shigellosis. Shigellosis is an acute infectious disease characterized by inflammatory colitis and dysentery, often presenting with fever, abdominal cramps, and bloody diarrhea.

Apply this code when documentation explicitly specifies Shigella flexneri as the causative agent of a shigella infection. This typically occurs following laboratory confirmation via stool culture or PCR identifying the specific serotype. Use for both inpatient and outpatient encounters where this specific pathogen is diagnosed.

• Ensure the documentation specifies Shigella flexneri and not a general Shigella infection or another Shigella species.
• Do not use this code if the Shigella species is unspecified; instead, use 004.9 (Shigellosis, unspecified).
• Code any associated manifestations or complications of shigellosis, such as dehydration (276.51) or toxic megacolon (557.0), as additional diagnoses.