Foodborne staphylococcal intoxication

This code signifies an acute illness resulting from the ingestion of food contaminated with toxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus. Symptoms typically involve rapid onset of nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea, without fever. It is a form of food poisoning caused by pre-formed bacterial toxins, not by the bacteria themselves multiplying in the host.

Apply this code when documentation clearly indicates a diagnosis of staphylococcal food poisoning, often linked to consumption of improperly handled foods like salads, dairy products, or cooked meats. Supporting documentation should specify the staphylococcal etiology of the foodborne intoxication.

• Differentiate from other bacterial foodborne intoxications; the documentation must specify staphylococcal.
• Do not use for active Staphylococcus aureus infection in other body systems; this code is specific to foodborne intoxication.
• Consider sequencing with codes for associated symptoms (e.g., vomiting, diarrhea) if they are not integral to the primary diagnosis.