Lobar pneumonia, unspecified organism
ICD-10 J18.1 is a billable code used to indicate a diagnosis of lobar pneumonia, unspecified organism.
Lobar pneumonia, unspecified organism, is a type of pneumonia characterized by the inflammation of a large and continuous area of the lobe of a lung. This condition can arise from various infectious agents, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, though the specific organism is not identified in this code. Clinically, patients may present with symptoms such as cough, fever, chills, pleuritic chest pain, and difficulty breathing. The anatomy involved primarily includes the lung lobes, which are sections of the lungs that can become consolidated with fluid and inflammatory cells during infection. Disease progression can vary; in some cases, it may resolve with appropriate treatment, while in others, it can lead to complications such as abscess formation or respiratory failure. Diagnostic considerations include chest X-rays or CT scans to visualize the extent of lung involvement, along with sputum cultures or blood tests to identify the causative organism when possible. However, in cases where the organism remains unspecified, treatment is often empirical, focusing on broad-spectrum antibiotics.
Standard ICD-10-CM documentation requirements apply
Various clinical presentations within this specialty area
Follow specialty-specific billing guidelines
Standard ICD-10-CM documentation requirements apply
Various clinical presentations within this specialty area
Follow specialty-specific billing guidelines
J18.1 covers lobar pneumonia where the specific causative organism is not identified. This can include cases where the pneumonia is suspected to be bacterial, viral, or fungal but not confirmed through laboratory testing.
J18.1 should be used when a patient presents with lobar pneumonia but the organism has not been identified. If the organism is known, a more specific code should be selected, such as J18.0 for pneumonia due to Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Documentation should include clinical findings such as symptoms, physical examination results, imaging studies, and any laboratory tests performed. It should also note the absence of organism identification and the rationale for treatment decisions.
