Avoid coding unspecified UTI (N39.0) when specific site infection is mentioned. For example if both cystitis and UTI are mentioned it is not necessary to code UTI, instead code only cystitis. Urosepsis – This does not lead to any code in the alphabetic index.
Infection can happen in any part of the urinary tract – kidney, ureter, bladder or urethra. It is called as Cystitis, Urethritis and Pyelonephritis based on the site.
Urinary Tract infection (UTI) is a very common infectious disease occurs commonly in aged women. As age goes up there will be structural changes happening in kidney. Muscles in the bladder, urethra and ureter become weaken. Urinary retention gets increased in the bladder and this creates an environment for bacterial growth.
Urethritis. It is not necessary to mention the infectious agent when using ICD N39.0. If the infectious organism is mentioned, place the UTI code primary and organism secondary. Site specified infection should be coded to the particular site. For example, Infection to bladder to be coded as cystitis, infection to urethra to urethritis.
N39.0 is a valid billable ICD-10 diagnosis code for Urinary tract infection, site not specified . It is found in the 2021 version of the ICD-10 Clinical Modification (CM) and can be used in all HIPAA-covered transactions from Oct 01, 2020 - Sep 30, 2021 .
DO NOT include the decimal point when electronically filing claims as it may be rejected. Some clearinghouses may remove it for you but to avoid having a rejected claim due to an invalid ICD-10 code, do not include the decimal point when submitting claims electronically. See also:
Assign code 997.5, Urinary complications, for the urostomy associated UTI, resulting from poor self-catheterization technique/hygiene. This code includes conditions associated with an external stoma of the urinary tract. Assign also code 599.0, Urinary tract infection, site not specified. The POA indicator of "Y" will clarify that the condition was present on admission, and is not hospital acquired. Additionally, code 996.64, Infection and inflammatory reaction due to internal prosthetic device, implant and graft, due to indwelling urinary catheter, is not appropriate since a urostomy is not an indwelling catheter. A urostomy is a surgically created opening in the abdominal wall that redirects urine and allows it to flow to the outside of the body.
A straight cath or in/out cath is notan internal prosthetic device. Code 996.64 is for use of UTI due to indwelling urinary catheters. Code 996.65 is for use of other indwelling genitourinarydevices such as IUDs. Thank you,
A nephrostomy tube may be used to drain the urine from the kidney or a catheter may be used to drain the urine from the bladder. The most important thing in treatment of hydronephrosis is to get it addressed as soon as it is known to prevent permanent damage to the kidneys.
Treatment for Hydronephrosis: Treatment is typically focused on treating the underlying condition by removing the urine buildup, relieving pressure or clearing the infection. If caused by infection, this would be treated with antibiotics.
Hydronephrosis is due to another disease or disorder and is not considered a primary disease, but a secondary condition. In the picture below, on the left is a normal kidney/ureter and on the right is hydronephrosis and swelling of the kidney.