Listerial endocarditis

This code signifies an infection of the inner lining of the heart (endocardium) caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. This is a serious condition that can lead to significant cardiac damage and systemic complications.

Use this code when documentation explicitly states a diagnosis of endocarditis confirmed to be caused by Listeria. This typically requires positive blood cultures or tissue cultures identifying Listeria monocytogenes in a patient presenting with symptoms of endocarditis.

• Ensure documentation specifies Listeria as the causative organism for endocarditis; otherwise, use a more general endocarditis code.
• Always sequence this code as the primary diagnosis if it is the reason for the encounter, followed by any associated heart conditions.
• Distinguish from other bacterial endocarditis codes (e.g., staphylococcal, streptococcal) based on definitive microbiological identification.