Meningitis in other bacterial diseases classified elsewhere

This code signifies inflammation of the meninges (membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord) caused by a bacterial infection that is a manifestation of another underlying systemic bacterial disease. It indicates that the meningitis is secondary to a primary bacterial condition classified elsewhere in the ICD-9-CM system.

Use this code when documentation explicitly states bacterial meningitis as a complication or manifestation of another specified bacterial disease, such as tuberculosis, syphilis, or Lyme disease. The medical record should clearly identify both the meningitis and the underlying bacterial etiology.

• Always code the underlying bacterial disease first, followed by this code to indicate the meningitis manifestation.
• Do not use this code for bacterial meningitis where the causative organism is the primary diagnosis (e.g., meningococcal meningitis).
• Ensure the documentation specifies "bacterial" meningitis and links it to another classified bacterial disease; otherwise, a more general meningitis code may be appropriate.