Sepsis ICD-10-CM codes | 2025

What ICD-10 codes are used for sepsis?

Below are lists of commonly used ICD Codes for Sepsis depending on the bacteria that caused the sepsis. For streptococci, this includes the following:

• A40.0 and A40.1: Sepsis due to streptococcus group A and Sepsis due to streptococcus, group B
• A40.3: Sepsis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae
• A40.8 and A40.9: Other streptococcal sepsis and Streptococcal sepsis, unspecified

For Staphylococcus aureus, the following codes are used:

• A41.01: Sepsis due to Methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus
• A41.02: Sepsis due to Methicillin resistent Staphylococcus aureus

For Staphylococcus, the following codes can be considered:

• A41.1: Sepsis due to other specified staphylococcus
• A41.2:  Sepsis due to unspecified staphylococcus

For gram-negative organisms, these codes can be used:

• A41.4: Sepsis due to anaerobes
• A41.50: Gram-negative sepsis, unspecified
• A41.51: Sepsis due to Escherichia coli [E.coli]
• A41.52: Sepsis due to Pseudomonas
• A41.53: Sepsis due to Serratia
• A41.54: Sepsis due to Acinetobacter baumannii
• A41.59: Other Gram-negative sepsis

For other or unspecified organisms, these codes can be used:

• A41.81: Sepsis due to Enterococcus
• A41.89: Other specified Sepsis
• A41.9: Sepsis, unspecified organism

Aside from the ICD codes mentioned above, we'll also provide the list of ICD codes for septicemia or severe sepsis and another one for postpartum sepsis:

• R65.20: Severe sepsis without septic shock
• R65.21: Severe sepsis with septic shock
• O85: Puerperal sepsis

R65.2x codes (severe sepsis) are secondary codes and must be used in addition to a code for the underlying infection (e.g., A41.9). They cannot be coded alone.

Which sepsis ICD codes are billable?

All of the codes mentioned above are billable.

Clinical information

• Sepsis is a life-threatening illness caused by an infection that triggers an extreme response in the immune system. 
• It has three stages: sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock.
• Signs and symptoms of sepsis are fever, hypotension or a fast heart rate, confusion, difficulty breathing, extreme pain, and sweaty skin.
• On the other hand, signs and symptoms of severe sepsis will be a combination of the ones they're experiencing during sepsis and others, such as asthenia, thrombocytopenia, unconsciousness, bluish skin discoloration, dizziness, decreased urination, etc.
• When a patient has septic shock, in addition to the signs and symptoms of severe sepsis, one of the critical symptoms the patient will experience is extremely low blood pressure. 
• Bacteria are the most common cause of sepsis. However, particular viruses can also cause infection.
• Although anyone is susceptible to sepsis, those with a higher risk of infection are people undergoing chemotherapy, have HIV, are in ICUs, and have invasive devices like catheters or breathing tubes. Young children and seniors are also highly susceptible to infections. 
• One diagnosis of sepsis is by checking if the patient has symptoms of sepsis. If they do, the patient will undergo a blood test and, if needed, a urine test, wound/mucus secretion test, and imaging tests like x-rays, CT scans, ultrasounds, and MRI scans. 
• The severity of sepsis depends on whether it hits the criteria of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) or quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA). 
• Treatments for sepsis include antibiotics, medication, pain relievers, insulin, and sometimes dialysis or surgery.

Synonyms include

• Bacterial sepsis
• Systemic inflammatory response syndrome
• Clinical sepsis
• Clinical infection
• Sepsis without septic shock