Underdosing of rifampicins, initial encounter

This code signifies that a patient has received less than the prescribed or therapeutically effective dose of a rifampicin-class antibiotic. This underdosing can lead to inadequate treatment of the underlying infection, potentially resulting in treatment failure, disease progression, or the development of antibiotic resistance. It specifically refers to the initial presentation or encounter related to this underdosing event.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates that a patient was administered an insufficient quantity of a rifampicin medication. This may occur due to patient non-adherence, prescribing errors, dispensing errors, or issues with drug absorption. It is appropriate for the first time the underdosing is identified and addressed.

• Always sequence this code after the code for the underlying condition being treated with rifampicin.
• Ensure documentation specifies "underdosing" and not simply "non-compliance" if the intent is to capture the insufficient dosage.
• The 7th character "A" indicates an initial encounter, meaning the patient is receiving active treatment for the underdosing or its effects.