AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-9 - 2012 Issue 3; Ask the Editor
Sepsis due to Candida Albicans Urinary Tract Infection
This 73-year-old patient presented with fever. Blood cultures were positive for Candida albicans and the patient received antifungal therapy. In the final diagnostic statement, the provider listed sepsis due to urinary tract yeast (Candida) infection. She also had an obstructing kidney stone and hydronephrosis and a nephrostomy tube was placed prior to the current admission. Which would be the principal diagnosis, unspecified sepsis (038.9), disseminated candidiasis (112.5) or candidiasis of urogenital site (112.2)? Is code 995.91, Sepsis, appropriate as a secondary code assignment? ...
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Article Overview
This premium coding article focuses on a sepsis case linked to Candida albicans urinary tract infection and the related diagnostic coding questions that arise from the record. It is intended for coding professionals who need to evaluate diagnosis sequencing, infectious disease terminology, and related code assignment considerations in a clinical scenario involving blood cultures, antifungal treatment, and urinary tract involvement.
Why This Topic Matters
Cases involving sepsis and fungal infection can be challenging to classify correctly, especially when multiple infection-related diagnoses and genitourinary findings appear in the record. Understanding the article helps coders and auditors assess how this type of case is discussed in a coding context.
What You Will Learn
- How a sepsis case associated with Candida infection is framed for coding discussion
- Which diagnosis coding questions are raised by the clinical scenario
- How the article approaches principal diagnosis and secondary diagnosis considerations at a high level
- What types of clinical findings and infection-related terms are part of the scenario
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding auditors
- CDI specialists
- Billing and reimbursement staff
- HIM professionals
Codes Discussed
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