Carrier or suspected carrier of diphtheria

This code identifies an individual who harbors Corynebacterium diphtheriae without exhibiting active symptoms of diphtheria. These individuals can transmit the bacteria to others, acting as a reservoir for the disease. They may have a history of diphtheria or have been exposed to the bacteria and developed an asymptomatic carrier state.

Assign this code when laboratory tests confirm the presence of C. diphtheriae in a patient who is not currently ill with diphtheria. This is often used for public health surveillance, contact tracing, or when screening individuals in high-risk environments. It is also appropriate for individuals identified as carriers during an outbreak investigation.

• Do not use this code for active diphtheria infection; instead, refer to codes for infectious diseases.
• Ensure documentation clearly states "carrier" or "suspected carrier" and not active disease.
• Consider additional codes for any associated signs or symptoms if present, but only if they are not directly indicative of active diphtheria.