Pneumococcal arthritis, unspecified ankle and foot

This code signifies an inflammatory joint condition of the ankle and/or foot caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. It represents a bacterial arthritis specifically attributed to pneumococcal bacteria, affecting the lower extremity joints.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states a diagnosis of pneumococcal arthritis involving an unspecified ankle or foot. This diagnosis is typically supported by positive joint fluid cultures for S. pneumoniae or other definitive microbiological evidence in a patient presenting with acute joint inflammation.

• Ensure the documentation specifies "pneumococcal" as the causative agent; otherwise, a more general infectious arthritis code may be appropriate.
• If the specific ankle (right or left) or foot is documented, use a more precise code from the M00.17- subcategory.
• Always code the underlying infection (e.g., pneumonia if present) as an additional diagnosis, following sequencing guidelines.