A02.24

HCC Category Mapping

What This Code Means

A bone infection caused by Salmonella bacteria, which is a type of food-borne pathogen that can spread through the bloodstream and infect the bone tissue. This condition causes inflammation, pain, and potential bone damage if left untreated.

Coding Tips

• •Verify the specific bone site affected and use an additional code from category M86 if needed to specify the anatomical location (e.g., femur, tibia, humerus)
• •Confirm the diagnosis is documented as Salmonella osteomyelitis and not another type of bacterial osteomyelitis, as this distinction is important for treatment and epidemiological tracking

Clinical Significance

Salmonella osteomyelitis is a bone infection caused by non-typhi Salmonella species, classically associated with sickle cell disease where it is the most common cause of osteomyelitis. It requires prolonged antibiotic therapy and may need surgical intervention, representing substantial healthcare resource utilization.

Documentation Requirements

• ✓Bone culture or blood culture identifying Salmonella species with radiographic evidence of bone involvement
• ✓MRI, bone scan, or CT imaging confirming osteomyelitis
• ✓Specific bone(s) and anatomic location(s) affected
• ✓Acuity — acute vs. chronic osteomyelitis
• ✓Underlying risk factors documented (sickle cell disease, immunosuppression, prosthetic hardware)

Commonly Confused Codes