Clostridium perfringens causing diseases classd elswhr

This code identifies Clostridium perfringens as the specific bacterial agent responsible for an infection that is classified and coded elsewhere. It indicates that the patient's primary condition, such as gas gangrene or food poisoning, is caused by this particular gram-positive bacterium.

This code is used as a secondary code when documentation explicitly states C. perfringens as the causative organism for a disease. It is appropriate when the primary diagnosis code describes the manifestation of the infection, and the physician's notes confirm the specific bacterial etiology.

• Always sequence this code after the code for the primary condition caused by C. perfringens.
• Ensure physician documentation clearly identifies C. perfringens through laboratory confirmation or clinical diagnosis.
• Do not use this code as a standalone diagnosis; it always requires an accompanying code for the disease manifestation.