Certified Professional Coder (CPC) Practice Test

What is the diagnosis code for staphylococcal septicemia with systemic inflammatory response syndrome?

1. 038.10

2. 041.53

3. 038.9

4. 020.81

The correct answer is: 038.10

The diagnosis code for staphylococcal septicemia with systemic inflammatory response syndrome is accurately identified as 038.10. This code is specifically assigned to septicemia due to Staphylococcus (Staph) bacteria, which is an infection that can lead to a systemic inflammatory response. When documenting a staphylococcal septicemia case, the code reflects the causative organism, which is critical for proper coding and billing. The inclusion of systemic inflammatory response syndrome indicates the severity and systemic nature of the infection, reinforcing the need to use a specific code that captures these clinical details. Other options represent different conditions. For instance, 041.53 pertains to other specified bacterial infections, but it does not specifically denote septicemia or relate to staphylococcal infections directly. The code 038.9 stands for unspecified septicemia, lacking the specificity to denote the causative organism. Lastly, 020.81 is designated for cases of septicemia due to specific pathogens, which does not apply to staphylococcal infections. Thus, the precision and specificity of 038.10 make it the appropriate and correct choice for this diagnosis.