Cellulitis of abdominal wall

This code identifies an acute bacterial infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue specifically located on the abdominal wall. It presents with localized erythema, warmth, swelling, and pain, often without purulent drainage. The infection typically spreads rapidly and can be accompanied by systemic symptoms like fever.

Assign this code when documentation clearly indicates cellulitis affecting the abdominal wall. This includes infections post-surgical incision, trauma, or spontaneous onset in this anatomical region. Ensure the physician's notes specify the abdominal wall as the site of infection.

• Differentiate from abscesses or other localized skin infections, which have distinct codes.
• Do not use if the cellulitis is specifically of the umbilicus or groin, as these have separate Excludes2 codes.
• Look for documentation of the specific anatomical site to avoid miscoding with more general cellulitis codes.