Staphylococcal meningitis

This code represents an inflammation of the meninges, the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, specifically caused by Staphylococcus bacteria. This is a severe bacterial infection of the central nervous system.

Use this code when documentation explicitly states a diagnosis of meningitis due to Staphylococcus species. This typically follows laboratory confirmation of staphylococcal infection from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture or other diagnostic tests.

• Always confirm the causative organism; if unspecified, a different meningitis code would be appropriate.
• Do not confuse with other bacterial meningitides (e.g., streptococcal, pneumococcal) or viral meningitis.
• Sequence this code as the primary diagnosis when it is the reason for the encounter.