AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-9 - 1997 Fourth Quarter
Legionnaires' Disease
Legionnaires' disease acquired its name in 1976 when an outbreak of pneumonia occurred among persons attending a convention of the American Legion in Philadelphia. Later, the bacterium causing the illness was named Legionella. There are now more than 30 species of Legionella, and at least 19 species have been implicated as agents of pneumonia in man. Legionnaires' disease is a form of pneumonia that is almost always caused by inhalation of aerosols that come from a water source contaminated with the bacteria (e.g. air conditioning cooling towers, whirlpool spas, showers). The symptoms are usually fever, chills, and a...
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Article Overview
This article explains the disease commonly associated with Legionella exposure, including its typical presentation, sources of infection, diagnostic approaches, and who is at higher risk. It also discusses an ICD-9-CM indexing change intended to improve data collection for this diagnosis. The content is useful for coders, CDI staff, and healthcare professionals who need a general understanding of the condition and its coding history.
Why This Topic Matters
Legionnaires' disease is an important cause of pneumonia with public health and inpatient coding implications. Understanding the article helps readers recognize the condition’s clinical context and its historical coding placement in ICD-9-CM.
What You Will Learn
- What Legionnaires' disease is and how it is acquired
- Common symptoms and diagnostic approaches
- Which populations are at higher risk
- How the condition was indexed in ICD-9-CM and why a new code was created
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Clinical documentation integrity specialists
- Healthcare providers
- Medical records staff
- Public health and epidemiology professionals
Codes Discussed
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