J15.29

Billable

Pneumonia due to other staphylococcus

HCC Category Mapping

V28HCC 282 — Aspiration and Specified Bacterial Pneumonias

0.711

V24HCC 114 — Aspiration and Specified Bacterial Pneumonias

0.339

ESRDHCC 114 — Aspiration and Specified Bacterial Pneumonias

0.000

What This Code Means

Pneumonia caused by a type of Staphylococcus bacteria other than the common Staphylococcus aureus.

Coding Tips

•Use this code for other staphylococcal species such as S. epidermidis or S. saprophyticus
•Document the specific staphylococcal species identified in the medical record

Clinical Significance

Pneumonia due to other Staphylococcus species is a significant bacterial respiratory infection that increases morbidity, particularly in elderly and immunocompromised patients. Non-aureus staphylococcal pneumonia is uncommon and typically occurs in immunocompromised patients or those with prosthetic devices. Accurate organism identification impacts treatment decisions, infection control measures, and risk stratification.

Documentation Requirements

✓Documentation of pneumonia diagnosis with causative organism identified as other Staphylococcus species
✓Chest imaging (X-ray or CT) findings consistent with pneumonia
✓Clinical signs and symptoms documented (fever, cough, dyspnea, sputum production)
✓Culture, sputum, or molecular testing results confirming the specific organism
✓Antibiotic therapy prescribed and documented
✓Severity assessment (need for oxygen, hospitalization, intensive care)

Commonly Confused Codes

J15.211 — MSSA pneumonia; use for Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin susceptible), not other species J15.212 — MRSA pneumonia; use for Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin resistant), not other species J15.20 — Staphylococcal pneumonia, unspecified; use when the staphylococcal species is not identified J18.9 — Pneumonia, unspecified organism; do not use when the causative organism has been identified

Code Hierarchy

└J15Bacterial pneumonia, not elsewhere classified └J15.2Pneumonia due to staphylococcus └J15.29Pneumonia due to other staphylococcus

└J15.29Pneumonia due to other staphylococcus