Learn about infected wound diagnosis, including clinical documentation, healthcare guidelines, and medical coding. Find information on signs and symptoms, treatment options, and ICD-10 codes related to wound infection. This resource offers support for healthcare professionals in accurately documenting and coding infected wounds for optimal patient care and reimbursement. Explore resources for wound care management and infection prevention.
Also known as
Infection following a procedure
Infection complicating a surgical wound or medical procedure.
Infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue
Infections like cellulitis, abscesses, or infected ulcers.
Infection following infusion, transfusion and therapeutic injection
Infections arising from intravenous lines or injections.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Is the infection site specified?
When to use each related code
| Description |
|---|
| Infected Wound |
| Cellulitis |
| Abscess |
Coding Infected Wound without specifying the anatomical location leads to inaccurate data and rejected claims. Use precise site-specific codes.
Failing to document the cause of the wound infection (e.g., traumatic, postoperative) impacts severity and may hinder appropriate treatment.
Incorrectly coding superficial wounds as deep, or vice-versa, affects DRG assignment and reimbursement. Proper documentation is crucial.
Patient presents with an infected wound. Clinical findings suggestive of wound infection include erythema, edema, warmth, pain, purulent drainage, and potential odor. Wound location is documented as (insert location). Wound size is measured at (length) x (width) x (depth) cm. Surrounding skin integrity is assessed as (intact, macerated, excoriated). Patient reports (present, absent) fever, chills, malaise, and lymphadenopathy. Differential diagnoses considered include cellulitis, abscess, necrotizing fasciitis, and foreign body reaction. Wound culture obtained and sent for analysis. Current medications reviewed for potential drug interactions or contraindications to prescribed wound care. Patient education provided regarding wound care instructions, signs and symptoms of worsening infection, and importance of follow-up. Treatment plan includes (debridement, if applicable), topical antimicrobial ointment (specify), and oral antibiotics (specify). Patient's tetanus status assessed and updated as needed. Follow-up appointment scheduled for (date) to monitor wound healing progress and adjust treatment plan as indicated. ICD-10 code for infected wound (specify code based on location and severity) and CPT codes for wound debridement and other procedures (if performed) documented for medical billing and coding purposes. Plan to monitor for complications such as sepsis, osteomyelitis, and delayed wound healing.