Congenital pneumonia due to streptococcus, group B

This code signifies pneumonia present at birth or developing shortly thereafter in a neonate, specifically caused by Group B Streptococcus (GBS). It indicates a bacterial infection of the lungs acquired perinatally, often through vertical transmission from the mother.

Use this code when documentation confirms a diagnosis of congenital pneumonia in a newborn, and laboratory findings or clinical context explicitly identify Group B Streptococcus as the causative agent. This typically applies to infants exhibiting respiratory distress, fever, or other signs of infection shortly after birth, with GBS isolated from blood, CSF, or tracheal aspirates.

• Ensure documentation clearly specifies "congenital" or "neonatal" onset of pneumonia.
• Verify that Group B Streptococcus is explicitly identified as the pathogen; do not assume based on general neonatal pneumonia.
• Consider sequencing this code as the primary diagnosis if it is the reason for the encounter, followed by codes for associated symptoms or complications.