Back to HomeBeta

ICD-10 Coding for Acute Urinary Tract Infection(N30.00, N10)

Complete ICD-10-CM coding and documentation guide for Acute Urinary Tract Infection. Includes clinical validation requirements, documentation requirements, and coding pitfalls.

Also known as:

Acute UTIBladder InfectionAcute Cystitis

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to Acute Urinary Tract Infection

N30-N39Primary Range

Diseases of the urinary system

This range includes codes for various urinary tract infections, including acute cystitis and pyelonephritis.

Code Comparison: When to Use Each Code

Compare key differences between these codes to ensure accurate selection

CodeDescriptionWhen to UseKey Documentation
N30.00Acute cystitis without hematuriaUse when the patient presents with symptoms of acute cystitis without hematuria.
  • Dysuria
  • Suprapubic pain
  • Negative imaging for upper UTI
N10Acute pyelonephritisUse when the patient has symptoms indicative of kidney infection.
  • Flank pain
  • Fever >38°C
  • WBC casts on urinalysis

Clinical Decision Support

Always review the patient's clinical documentation thoroughly. When in doubt, choose the more specific code and ensure documentation supports it.

Key Information: ICD-10 code for acute urinary tract infection

Essential facts and insights about Acute Urinary Tract Infection

The ICD-10 code for acute urinary tract infection is N30.00 for acute cystitis without hematuria. For acute pyelonephritis, use N10.

Primary ICD-10-CM Codes for acute urinary tract infection

Acute cystitis without hematuria
Billable Code

Decision Criteria

clinical Criteria

  • Patient presents with dysuria and suprapubic pain.

documentation Criteria

  • Documentation must specify 'acute cystitis' without hematuria.

Applicable To

  • Acute bladder infection

Excludes

Clinical Validation Requirements

  • Dysuria
  • Suprapubic pain
  • Negative imaging for upper UTI

Code-Specific Risks

  • Misclassification if hematuria is present but not documented.

Coding Notes

  • Ensure documentation specifies 'acute' and absence of hematuria.

Ancillary Codes

Additional codes that should be used in conjunction with the main diagnosis codes when applicable.

Unspecified Escherichia coli [E. coli] as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere

B96.20
Use to specify the organism causing the UTI.

Differential Codes

Alternative codes to consider when ruling out similar conditions to the primary diagnosis.

Acute cystitis with hematuria

N30.01
Presence of hematuria in urinalysis.

Urinary tract infection, site not specified

N39.0
Use when the site of infection cannot be determined.

Documentation & Coding Risks

Avoid these common documentation and coding issues when documenting Acute Urinary Tract Infection to ensure proper reimbursement, maintain compliance, and reduce audit risk. These guidelines are particularly important when using ICD-10 code N30.00.

Impact

Clinical: May lead to inappropriate antibiotic selection., Regulatory: Non-compliance with coding standards., Financial: Potential for denied claims.

Mitigation Strategy

Always include culture results in documentation., Use specific organism codes when available.

Impact

Reimbursement: Incorrect coding can lead to lower reimbursement rates., Compliance: Non-compliance with coding guidelines., Data Quality: Inaccurate clinical data representation.

Mitigation Strategy

Document 'sepsis due to E. coli UTI' to ensure proper coding.

Impact

Failure to document linkage can lead to audit flags.

Mitigation Strategy

Use specific phrases like 'sepsis due to UTI'.

Documentation errors, coding pitfalls, and audit risks are interconnected aspects of medical coding and billing. Addressing all three areas helps ensure accurate coding, optimal reimbursement, and regulatory compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about ICD-10 coding for Acute Urinary Tract Infection, with expert answers to help guide accurate code selection and documentation.

Documentation Templates for Acute Urinary Tract Infection

Use these documentation templates to ensure complete and accurate documentation for Acute Urinary Tract Infection. These templates include all required elements for proper coding and billing.

Emergency Department Note for Acute Cystitis

Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Required Elements

  • Chief Complaint
  • History of Present Illness
  • Physical Exam
  • Laboratory Results
  • Assessment and Plan

Example Documentation

Chief Complaint: Dysuria x 3 days. HPI: 32F with burning on urination, urgency, suprapubic tenderness. No flank pain/fever. PE: T 98.6°F, CVAT negative, suprapubic tenderness (+). Labs: Urinalysis >100 WBC/hpf, 3+ leuk esterase. Culture: Pending. Assessment: Acute uncomplicated cystitis (presumed E. coli). Plan: Nitrofurantoin 100mg BID x5 days. Await culture confirmation.

Examples: Poor vs. Good Documentation

Poor Documentation Example
UTI diagnosed, prescribe antibiotics.
Good Documentation Example
Acute bacterial cystitis with >10^5 CFU/mL E. coli on culture, no hematuria present.
Explanation
The good example provides specific culture results and excludes hematuria, ensuring accurate coding.

Need help with ICD-10 coding for Acute Urinary Tract Infection? Ask your questions below.

Ask about any ICD-10 CM code, or paste a medical note

We build tools for
clinician happiness.

Learn More at Freed.ai
Back to HomeBeta

Built by Freed

Try Freed for free for 7 days.

Learn more