Carrier or suspected carrier of other specified infectious organism

This code identifies an individual who is a known or suspected carrier of an infectious organism, but who is not currently exhibiting symptoms of the disease. It signifies the presence of a pathogen without active infection or illness.

Apply this code when documentation indicates a patient is a carrier of a specific infectious agent, such as a bacteria or virus, but the organism is not explicitly listed elsewhere in ICD-9-CM. This is often used for screening purposes or when a patient tests positive for a pathogen without clinical signs of disease.

• Ensure the medical record clearly states the patient is a "carrier" or "suspected carrier" of an infectious organism.
• Do not use this code if a more specific carrier code for the identified organism exists (e.g., for Hepatitis B).
• This code is typically a secondary diagnosis, as it describes a state rather than an active illness requiring treatment.