Pneumococcal meningitis

This code represents an acute inflammation of the meninges, the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, specifically caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. It is a severe bacterial infection that can lead to significant neurological complications.

Use this code when documentation clearly states a diagnosis of meningitis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae. Supporting documentation would include positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures identifying S. pneumoniae, or clinical signs and symptoms of meningitis in a patient with a confirmed pneumococcal infection.

• Ensure the causative organism, Streptococcus pneumoniae, is explicitly documented.
• Do not use this code for meningitis of unspecified bacterial origin or other specific bacterial causes.
• Consider sequencing this code as the primary diagnosis when it is the reason for the encounter.