Bronchopneumonia, organism unspecified

This code represents an acute inflammatory condition affecting the bronchioles and surrounding alveoli, characterized by patchy consolidation of the lung parenchyma. It is a form of pneumonia where the specific causative microorganism has not been identified or documented.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates bronchopneumonia but the physician has not specified the bacterial, viral, or fungal etiology. This is appropriate for initial presentations where cultures are pending or when the organism remains unknown despite investigation.

• Avoid using this code if a specific organism (e.g., Streptococcus pneumoniae, influenza virus) is identified; instead, code the specific pneumonia.
• Review the entire medical record for any clues regarding the causative agent before defaulting to "unspecified."
• This code should be sequenced as the principal diagnosis when it is the primary reason for the encounter.