Poisoning of cephalosporin group

This code signifies an adverse reaction to an antibiotic belonging to the cephalosporin class, resulting from an overdose, wrong substance given or taken, or intoxication. It encompasses systemic effects of the drug when administered therapeutically or taken non-therapeutically. This is distinct from allergic reactions or side effects at therapeutic doses.

Apply this code when documentation clearly indicates a patient has experienced poisoning due to a cephalosporin antibiotic. This typically involves symptoms such as renal dysfunction, seizures, or gastrointestinal distress directly attributable to excessive cephalosporin levels. Supporting documentation would include medication lists, toxicology reports, and physician notes detailing the cause and effect.

• Always sequence this code first when it represents the primary reason for the encounter.
• Do not use this code for allergic reactions to cephalosporins; instead, refer to codes for adverse effects or allergic reactions.
• Ensure documentation specifies "poisoning" rather than "adverse effect" or "side effect" to justify this code.