Resistance to penicillins

This code indicates that a bacterial infection is no longer susceptible to treatment with penicillin-class antibiotics. This resistance can be intrinsic to the organism or acquired through genetic changes, making standard penicillin therapies ineffective. It signifies a critical factor in guiding appropriate antimicrobial selection.

Use this code when a patient has a documented infection where the causative organism has been identified and laboratory testing (e.g., culture and sensitivity) confirms resistance to penicillins. This code is also appropriate when a patient has a history of a penicillin-resistant infection that impacts current treatment decisions, even if the current infection is not explicitly being treated with penicillin.

• Always sequence this code after the infection code (e.g., bacterial pneumonia, streptococcal pharyngitis).
• Ensure documentation clearly states the organism's resistance to penicillins, typically from microbiology reports.
• Do not use this code for penicillin allergies; use codes from the Z88 category for drug allergies.