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T79.3XXA
ICD-10-CM
Infected Wound

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

Wound Infection
Infected Surgical Site

Diagnosis Snapshot

Key Facts
  • Definition : Invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in injured tissue, causing inflammation and impaired healing.
  • Clinical Signs : Redness, swelling, pain, heat, pus, fever, delayed healing, foul odor.
  • Common Settings : Surgical sites, traumatic injuries, burns, chronic wounds like diabetic ulcers.

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to AAPC T79.3XXA Coding
T79.3

Infection following a procedure

Infection complicating a surgical wound or medical procedure.

L00-L08

Infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue

Infections like cellulitis, abscesses, or infected ulcers.

T81.4XXA-T81.4XXD

Infection following infusion, transfusion and therapeutic injection

Infections arising from intravenous lines or injections.

Code-Specific Guidance

Decision Tree for

Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.

Is the infection site specified?

Code Comparison

Related Codes Comparison

When to use each related code

Description
Infected Wound
Cellulitis
Abscess

Documentation Best Practices

Documentation Checklist
  • Infected wound diagnosis documentation
  • Wound infection signs/symptoms: exudate, erythema, edema
  • Location and size of infected wound, include measurements
  • Microbiology culture results if obtained
  • ICD-10-CM code for infected wound with site specificity

Coding and Audit Risks

Common Risks
  • Unspecified Site

    Coding Infected Wound without specifying the anatomical location leads to inaccurate data and rejected claims. Use precise site-specific codes.

  • Missing Etiology

    Failing to document the cause of the wound infection (e.g., traumatic, postoperative) impacts severity and may hinder appropriate treatment.

  • Superficial vs. Deep

    Incorrectly coding superficial wounds as deep, or vice-versa, affects DRG assignment and reimbursement. Proper documentation is crucial.

Mitigation Tips

Best Practices
  • Document infection site, type, and cause.
  • Code specific organism if known, else unspecified.
  • Capture wound size, depth, drainage for accurate coding.
  • Query physician for clarity if documentation is vague.
  • Regularly review wound care documentation for compliance.

Clinical Decision Support

Checklist
  • Visual confirmation: purulence, erythema, edema
  • Elevated WBC or positive wound culture
  • Patient reports pain, fever, or malodor
  • Assess for systemic infection signs
  • Document wound size, depth, location

Reimbursement and Quality Metrics

Impact Summary
  • Infected Wound Reimbursement: Coding accuracy impacts MSDRG assignment and payment.
  • Quality Metrics Impact: Infection rates affect hospital value-based purchasing scores.
  • Coding Impact: Proper ICD-10-CM code selection (e.g., L08.9) crucial for accurate reimbursement.
  • Reporting Impact: Accurate infection data critical for public health surveillance and hospital quality reporting.

Streamline Your Medical Coding

Let S10.AI help you select the most accurate ICD-10 codes. Our AI-powered assistant ensures compliance and reduces coding errors.

Quick Tips

Practical Coding Tips
  • Document infection site
  • Specify organism if known
  • Code underlying cause
  • Check 7th character for encounter
  • Query physician if unclear

Documentation Templates

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.
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