Sepsis of newborn due to Staphylococcus aureus

This code signifies a severe systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in a newborn infant caused by an infection with Staphylococcus aureus. It indicates a life-threatening condition where the body's response to the bacterial infection damages its own tissues and organs.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states a diagnosis of neonatal sepsis and specifies Staphylococcus aureus as the causative organism. This typically occurs in newborns presenting with signs of infection such as fever, lethargy, poor feeding, respiratory distress, and positive blood cultures for S. aureus.

• Ensure the documentation explicitly identifies the newborn as the patient and Staphylococcus aureus as the specific pathogen.
• Do not use this code for sepsis in older infants or adults; specific codes exist for those age groups.
• Always sequence this code as the principal diagnosis when it is the primary reason for the admission or encounter.