Bacterial pneumonia, unspecified

This code signifies an infection of the lung parenchyma caused by bacteria, where the specific bacterial pathogen is not identified in the medical record. It represents a general diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia without further microbiological detail.

Use this code when documentation clearly states "bacterial pneumonia" but lacks information regarding the specific causative organism (e.g., Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae). This is appropriate when cultures are pending, negative, or not performed, and the physician has diagnosed bacterial pneumonia.

• Avoid using this code if a more specific bacterial pathogen is documented; always code to the highest level of specificity.
• Consider if an underlying condition (e.g., COPD, immunocompromised state) is also documented, as this may require additional codes.
• Review the entire medical record for any mention of a specific bacterium before defaulting to this unspecified code.