A41.3
BillableSepsis due to Hemophilus influenzae
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 2 — Septicemia, Sepsis, Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome/Shock
0.455V24HCC 2 — Septicemia, Sepsis, Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome/Shock
0.455ESRDHCC 2 — Septicemia, Sepsis, Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome/Shock
0.000What This Code Means
This is a serious bloodstream infection caused by Hemophilus influenzae bacteria that has spread throughout the body. It represents a life-threatening condition requiring immediate medical treatment.
Coding Tips
- •Ensure documentation clearly states 'sepsis' and identifies Hemophilus influenzae as the causative organism before assigning this code
- •This code should be paired with a code for the systemic inflammatory response (SIRS) or organ dysfunction codes to fully capture the severity of sepsis
Clinical Significance
Sepsis due to Haemophilus influenzae is a serious bloodstream infection that predominantly occurs in unvaccinated children, the elderly, and immunocompromised adults. Since the introduction of the Hib vaccine, invasive H. influenzae disease has shifted toward non-typeable and non-type b strains, particularly in adults with chronic lung disease or immunodeficiency.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Blood cultures positive for Haemophilus influenzae
- ✓Sepsis criteria documented with hemodynamic assessment
- ✓Age-specific context: vaccination status in children, comorbidities in adults
- ✓Source of infection (respiratory tract, meningitis, epiglottitis, cellulitis)
- ✓H. influenzae type (typeable serotypes a-f or non-typeable) if available
Commonly Confused Codes
J14 (Pneumonia due to Haemophilus influenzae) — J14 is pneumonia only; A41.3 is sepsis — code both when H. influenzae pneumonia progresses to sepsisA41.9 (Sepsis, unspecified organism) — Use A41.3 when H. influenzae is identified as the causative organismG00.0 (Hemophilus meningitis) — Code G00.0 separately when meningitis accompanies H. influenzae sepsis