A34

What This Code Means

Tetanus infection that develops in a pregnant woman or during the postpartum period, typically from contamination of the birth canal or delivery wounds. This is a serious bacterial infection caused by toxins from Clostridium tetani that can affect both mother and fetus.

Coding Tips

• •A34 is specific to obstetrical tetanus and should only be used for pregnant women, women in labor, or postpartum women; do not use for non-pregnant patients with tetanus
• •This code should be used as a secondary diagnosis when coding obstetrical cases; ensure the pregnancy status is also coded with appropriate O-codes (O00-O9A range) to capture the complete clinical picture