Pneumonia due to Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus

This code signifies an infection of the lung parenchyma, specifically pneumonia, caused by a strain of Staphylococcus aureus that has developed resistance to methicillin and related beta-lactam antibiotics. It indicates a bacterial lung infection where the causative organism is a drug-resistant staph.

Use this code when documentation clearly states pneumonia and identifies Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as the etiologic agent. This typically occurs following positive sputum cultures or other microbiological tests confirming MRSA in a patient presenting with symptoms of pneumonia.

• Ensure the documentation explicitly links MRSA as the cause of the pneumonia, not just a colonization.
• Do not use this code if the Staphylococcus aureus is sensitive to methicillin; a different code for staphylococcal pneumonia would be appropriate.
• Consider sequencing with codes for underlying conditions or complications, if applicable.