ICD-10 Guide

A02.22

Salmonella pneumonia

BILLABLE STATUSYes

IMPLEMENTATION DATEOctober 1, 2015

LAST UPDATED09/04/2025

Code Description

ICD-10 A02.22 is a billable code used to indicate a diagnosis of salmonella pneumonia.

Key Diagnostic Point:

Salmonella pneumonia

Code Complexity Analysis

Complexity Rating: Medium

Medium Complexity

Complexity Factors

# Analysis of ICD-10 Code A02.22 - Salmonella Pneumonia ## Complexity Rating **Medium** ## Factors Contributing to Complexity 1. **Specificity of Diagnosis**: - Salmonella pneumonia is a specific type of pneumonia caused by Salmonella bacteria. Clinicians must confirm the etiology and ensure the correct species of Salmonella is identified, which can involve laboratory testing and culture results. 2. **Clinical Presentation**: - Symptoms of pneumonia can overlap with other respiratory infections, requiring thorough clinical evaluation and diagnostic clarification, which can complicate the coding process. 3. **Co-morbid Conditions**: - Patients with Salmonella pneumonia may present with other underlying health issues (e.g., immunocompromised status, chronic respiratory diseases), necessitating accurate coding to reflect these complexities. 4. **Treatment Protocols**: - Treatment may vary based on severity and patient health status. The need for specific therapies, including antibiotics, may also impact the clinical picture and documentation requirements. 5. **Epidemiological Factors**: - The incidence of Salmonella infections can vary geographically and seasonally, which might influence clinical protocols and documentation practices. ## Audit Risks and Considerations 1. **Inaccurate Diagnosis Coding**: - Misclassification of pneumonia types (e.g., viral vs. bacterial) can lead to improper reimbursement and treatment approaches. Ensuring the use of the correct code requires a clear distinction between Salmonella pneumonia and other types of pneumonia. 2. **Documentation Gaps**: - Incomplete or unclear documentation regarding laboratory results or the clinical rationale for diagnosis may result in denials during audits. Providers must document the presence of Salmonella and its relation to pneumonia. 3. **Lack of Supporting Evidence**: - Auditors will look for sufficient evidence to support the diagnosis of Salmonella pneumonia. Documentation must include lab results, clinical findings, and any treatments administered. 4. **Risk of Misunderstanding Co-morbidities**: - Failure to adequately document co-existing conditions can lead to an underestimation of the patient’s overall health status and risk profile, impacting severity of illness coding. ## Documentation Requirements 1. **Laboratory Confirmation**: - Document positive cultures or laboratory tests confirming Salmonella as the causative agent of pneumonia. 2. **Clinical Symptoms**: - Detailed notes on the patient's symptoms, clinical findings, and progression of illness should be included to support the diagnosis. 3. **Treatment Details**: - Record any treatments given, including antibiotics and supportive care, along with response to treatment. 4. **Patient History**: - Comprehensive medical history, particularly regarding any previous Salmonella infections or gastrointestinal symptoms, should be documented. 5. **Discharge Summary**: - Include a summary that encapsulates the diagnosis, treatment, and any follow-up care needed, reinforcing the necessity of the code used. By adhering to these guidelines and thoroughly documenting the clinical scenario, healthcare providers can mitigate risks associated with coding for Salmonella pneumonia, ensuring accurate representation of the patient's condition and appropriate reimbursement.

Audit Risk Factors

Specialty Focus

Medical Specialties

General

Documentation Requirements

Standard requirements apply

Common Clinical Scenarios

Various clinical presentations

Billing Considerations

Follow standard billing guidelines

Coding Guidelines

Inclusion Criteria

Use A02.22 When

Comprehensive Coding Guidelines for ICD
10 Code A02
Salmonella Pneumonia
When to Use This Code vs
Related Codes:
Salmonella pneumonia is specifically used when the pneumonia is caused by Salmonella species
It is important to differentiate this from other types of pneumonia, such as:
Pneumonia, unspecified organism: Use when the causative organism is not identified

Exclusion Criteria

Do NOT use A02.22 When

Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
Salmonella pneumonia requires an understanding of the specificity of the condition, careful consideration of inclusion and exclusion criteria, attention to common coding pitfalls, and appropriate determination of the principal diagnosis

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

1. Code Structure: In ICD-9, there was no specific code for Salmonella pneumonia. The coding was more generalized, often categorized under broader pneumonia codes (e.g., 482.8 for atypical pneumonia). In contrast, ICD-10 introduced A02.22, providing a dedicated and specific code for this condition, reflecting a more precise classification of infectious diseases.

ICD-9 vs ICD-10

The implementation of ICD-10 in October 2015 brought significant changes to the coding landscape, including the addition of specific codes such as A02.22 for Salmonella pneumonia. Below is an overview of the impact of this specific code and its associated changes from ICD-9 to ICD-10. Changes from ICD-9 to ICD-10 1. Code Structure: In ICD-9, there was no specific code for Salmonella pneumonia. The coding was more generalized, often categorized under broader pneumonia codes (e.g., 482.8 for atypical pneumonia). In contrast, ICD-10 introduced A02.22, providing a dedicated and specific code for this condition, reflecting a more precise classification of infectious diseases. 2. Detail and Specificity: ICD-9 generally had fewer codes and was less detailed, leading to ambiguity in diagnosis reporting. ICD-10 allows for greater specificity in coding infectious diseases, including the identification of the organism responsible for the pneumonia (in this case, Salmonella). Specificity Improvements 1. Microorganism Identification: The specificity...

A02.22

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

A02.22

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