A04.3

What This Code Means

This is a serious bacterial infection caused by a specific strain of E. coli that produces toxins and causes bloody diarrhea and severe abdominal cramping. It can lead to serious complications like kidney failure, especially in young children and elderly patients.

Coding Tips

• •Verify the specific E. coli strain (O157:H7 is most common) is documented in the medical record, as this helps confirm the enterohemorrhagic type rather than other pathogenic E. coli strains
• •Look for documentation of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) or other complications, as these may require additional codes (D59.3 for HUS) and affect severity assessment