Sepsis of newborn due to Escherichia coli

This code identifies a severe systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in a neonate caused by an infection with Escherichia coli. This life-threatening condition manifests with signs of infection and organ dysfunction in an infant within the first 28 days of life.

Apply this code when documentation explicitly states sepsis in a newborn and specifies E. coli as the causative organism. Supporting documentation includes positive blood cultures for E. coli in a neonate presenting with systemic signs of infection (e.g., fever/hypothermia, lethargy, poor feeding, respiratory distress).

• Always confirm the causative organism is Escherichia coli and not another bacterial species.
• Ensure the patient is definitively a newborn (0-28 days of age) for this specific code.
• Do not use this code for sepsis due to E. coli in patients older than 28 days; refer to codes in Chapter 16 for non-newborn sepsis.