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v1.0.0
ICD-10 Guide
DiagnosesC Difficile Colitis

C Difficile Colitis

ICD-10 Coding for C. difficile colitis(A04.72, A04.71)

PRIMARY SPECIALTYGastroenterology
COMPLEXITYHigh
LAST UPDATED09/15/2025
Sam Tuffun, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist | Medical Coding & Billing Contributor

Diagnosis Overview

What is C Difficile Colitis?
Essential facts and insights about C. difficile colitis

Key Clinical Considerations:

  • Diarrhea (often watery and frequent)
  • Abdominal pain or cramping
  • Fever
  • Nausea
  • Key diagnostic tests include stool tests for C. difficile toxins and PCR assays
  • Physical exam may reveal abdominal tenderness and signs of dehydration

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

  • Patient history including recent antibiotic use
  • Laboratory test results confirming C. difficile infection
  • Clinical symptoms and their duration
  • Specific coding terminology includes 'C. difficile colitis' and 'pseudomembranous colitis'
  • Documentation examples: 'Patient presents with diarrhea and abdominal pain, stool test positive for C. difficile toxins.'

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

  • Usage guidelines: Use A04.7 for confirmed C. difficile infections; K52.9 for non-specific colitis.
  • Common errors: Misclassifying C. difficile as a non-infectious cause of colitis.

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

  • Excluded conditions: Other infectious colitis not caused by C. difficile.
  • Alternative codes: Consider A04.8 for other specified bacterial intestinal infections.

Related ICD-10 Codes

Primary Codes
A04.7
Clostridium difficile infection
K52.9
Noninfective gastroenteritis and colitis, unspecified
Ancillary Codes
R19.7
B96.2
Differential Codes
A04.71
A04.72

Related CPT Codes

CPT codes will be available in a future update.

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Gastroenterology

Specialty Applications

  • Patient populations: Individuals with recent antibiotic exposure, elderly patients, and those with weakened immune systems.
  • Clinical settings: Hospitals, outpatient clinics, and long-term care facilities.

Coding Complexity

High Complexity

This diagnosis requires careful attention to:

  • Comprehensive clinical documentation
  • Accurate code selection based on clinical criteria
  • Proper exclusion considerations
  • Specialty-specific coding guidelines

Documentation

Documentation Templates

Billing Information

Billing Considerations

  • Ensure proper documentation for billing
  • Verify code specificity requirements
  • Check for any additional codes needed
  • Review payer-specific guidelines

Common Issues

  • Insufficient clinical documentation
  • Incorrect code selection
  • Missing supporting diagnoses
  • Timing and frequency documentation

Frequently Asked Questions

Documentation requirements?

Document patient history, symptoms, lab results, and treatment plan.

Billing considerations?

Ensure accurate coding to reflect the severity and type of infection for proper reimbursement.