ICD-10 Guide

A02.21

Salmonella meningitis

BILLABLE STATUSYes

IMPLEMENTATION DATEOctober 1, 2015

LAST UPDATED09/17/2025

Code Description

ICD-10 A02.21 is a billable code used to indicate a diagnosis of salmonella meningitis.

Key Diagnostic Point:

Salmonella meningitis

Code Complexity Analysis

Complexity Rating: Medium

Medium Complexity

Complexity Factors

Analysis of ICD-10 Code A02
21 - Salmonella Meningitis Complexity Rating Medium Factors Contributing to Complexity 1
- The clinician must confirm the diagnosis through lab tests, which can complicate the coding process
Clinical Presentation: - Symptoms of meningitis can overlap with other conditions, making differential diagnosis essential

Audit Risk Factors

Documentation completeness
Coding accuracy verification
Clinical correlation review

Specialty Focus

Medical Specialties

General

Documentation Requirements

ICD-10 code A02.21 refers to Salmonella meningitis, a serious infection where the Salmonella bacteria invade the central nervous system, leading to inflammation of the protective membranes covering th...

Common Clinical Scenarios

Various clinical presentations within this specialty area

Billing Considerations

Follow specialty-specific billing guidelines and documentation requirements

Coding Guidelines

Inclusion Criteria

Use A02.21 When

Certainly! Here’s a comprehensive overview of ICD
10 code A02
Salmonella meningitis, which is a specific code used to classify cases of meningitis caused by Salmonella species
Below are the key points related to this code:
When to Use A02
Related Codes
21 (Salmonella meningitis): Use this code when documentation clearly states that the meningitis is caused specifically by Salmonella bacteria
This can include cases where the patient presents with meningitis symptoms alongside a confirmed diagnosis of Salmonella infection

Exclusion Criteria

Do NOT use A02.21 When

Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
Exclusions:

Related CPT Codes

No CPT Codes Available

Related CPT codes for this diagnosis will be displayed here when available.

ICD-10 Impact

Diagnostic & Documentation Impact

Enhanced Specificity

ICD-10 Improvements

Changes from ICD-9 to ICD-10

- In ICD-9, Salmonella meningitis was coded under 003.2, which provided a limited specificity. In contrast, ICD-10 offers a more detailed alphanumeric coding system, with A02.21 specifically identifying Salmonella meningitis.

ICD-9 vs ICD-10

The implementation of ICD-10 in October 2015 brought significant changes to the coding of diseases, including Salmonella meningitis, represented by code A02.21. Here’s a detailed look at the impact of ICD-10 implementation on this specific code: Changes from ICD-9 to ICD-10 1. Code Structure: - In ICD-9, Salmonella meningitis was coded under 003.2, which provided a limited specificity. In contrast, ICD-10 offers a more detailed alphanumeric coding system, with A02.21 specifically identifying Salmonella meningitis. 2. Expanded Category: - ICD-10 provides a broader range of codes for various types of infections and conditions, allowing for better differentiation among them. The transition to ICD-10 includes a more extensive representation of serotypes and manifestations of Salmonella infections. Specificity Improvements 1. Enhanced Detail: - The transition to ICD-10 allows for greater specificity in coding. A02.21 captures not just the presence of Salmonella meningitis but also allows for differentiation based on the serotype of Salmonella,...

A02.21

Code Description

Key Diagnostic Point:

Code Complexity Analysis

Complexity Rating: Medium

Complexity Factors

Audit Risk Factors

Specialty Focus

Medical Specialties

General

Documentation Requirements

Common Clinical Scenarios

Billing Considerations

Coding Guidelines

Inclusion Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

Related CPT Codes

No CPT Codes Available

ICD-10 Impact

Diagnostic & Documentation Impact

ICD-10 Improvements

ICD-9 vs ICD-10

Reimbursement & Billing Impact

Resources

Clinical References

Coding & Billing References

Frequently Asked Questions

A02.21

Code Description

Key Diagnostic Point:

Code Complexity Analysis

Complexity Rating: Medium

Complexity Factors

Audit Risk Factors

Specialty Focus

Medical Specialties

General

Documentation Requirements

Common Clinical Scenarios

Billing Considerations

Coding Guidelines

Inclusion Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

Related CPT Codes

No CPT Codes Available

ICD-10 Impact

Diagnostic & Documentation Impact

ICD-10 Improvements

ICD-9 vs ICD-10

Reimbursement & Billing Impact

Resources

Clinical References

Coding & Billing References

Frequently Asked Questions