Pneumococcal arthritis, unspecified wrist

This diagnosis code signifies an inflammatory condition of the wrist joint caused by a Streptococcus pneumoniae bacterial infection. It indicates a specific type of infectious arthritis where the causative organism is known to be pneumococcus, but the laterality of the wrist affected is not specified in the medical record.

Use this code when documentation confirms a diagnosis of pneumococcal arthritis affecting the wrist, and the physician's notes do not specify whether it's the right or left wrist. Supporting documentation would include positive cultures for Streptococcus pneumoniae from synovial fluid or blood, along with clinical signs and symptoms of arthritis in the wrist.

• Ensure the documentation explicitly states "pneumococcal" as the causative agent for arthritis.
• If laterality (right or left wrist) is documented, a more specific code should be used.
• Always sequence the underlying infection (e.g., pneumonia if applicable) before this code, if it is the primary reason for the encounter.