Poisoning by unspecified antibiotic

This code signifies an adverse reaction or toxic effect resulting from the ingestion, injection, or application of an antibiotic when the specific type of antibiotic is not documented. It represents a poisoning event where the causative agent is known to be an antibiotic, but further detail is lacking.

Use this code when a patient presents with symptoms of poisoning or adverse effects due to an antibiotic, but the medical record does not specify which antibiotic caused the reaction. This typically occurs in cases where the patient is unable to provide a clear history, or the specific drug is unknown at the time of initial assessment.

• Always strive for greater specificity; if the antibiotic is identified, use a more precise code from the 960.0-960.8 series.
• Code the manifestation of the poisoning (e.g., rash, anaphylaxis) first, followed by this poisoning code.
• Review documentation for any clues that might lead to a more specific antibiotic class, even if the exact drug name isn't present.