AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-9 - 1988 First Quarter
Pseudomembranous Colitis
In most cases the cause of pseudomembranous colitis is a toxin of the bacterium Clostridium difficile. It is coded 008.49, Intestinal infections due to other bacteria. The code assignment of 564.1, Irritable colon, is not assigned when the cause of the colitis is identified (or presumed) as due to bacterial infection. Pseudomembranous colitis is a diarrheal illness, usually febrile and with abdominal cramping. It affects debilitated patients and some patients taking antibiotics. In some instances it may occur postoperatively or in patients with uremia. ...
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Article Overview
This short Find-A-Code article discusses pseudomembranous colitis from a medical coding perspective. It explains the condition’s usual infectious association, identifies the relevant diagnosis coding context, and notes when an alternate intestinal disorder code is not used. The piece is relevant to coders, billers, compliance staff, and clinical documentation reviewers working with gastrointestinal and infectious disease diagnoses.
Why This Topic Matters
Correct diagnosis coding for pseudomembranous colitis depends on understanding the documented cause and how that affects code selection. This matters for accurate claims processing, documentation review, and consistent reporting of infectious gastrointestinal conditions.
What You Will Learn
- How pseudomembranous colitis is described in a coding context
- How documentation of an infectious cause affects diagnosis-code selection
- Which general clinical situations are associated with the condition in the article
- How the article frames differential coding considerations for intestinal and infectious diagnoses
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Medical billers
- Coding auditors
- Compliance teams
- Clinical documentation staff
- Healthcare providers
Codes Discussed
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