Infection with microorganisms resistant to penicillins

This code signifies an infection caused by bacteria or other microorganisms that have developed resistance to penicillin-based antibiotics. It indicates that standard penicillin treatments would be ineffective against the identified pathogen.

Use this code when laboratory culture and sensitivity testing confirms an infection is resistant to penicillin. This is applicable for various bacterial infections, such as certain strains of Staphylococcus aureus (e.g., MRSA, though more specific codes exist for MRSA), Streptococcus pneumoniae, or other penicillin-resistant organisms.

• Always confirm penicillin resistance through documentation of lab results.
• Do not use this code if the patient has a penicillin allergy; this code specifically denotes microbial resistance.
• Look for more specific codes if the resistant organism is identified (e.g., specific codes for MRSA, VRE). This code is more general.