Version 2024

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z20.81

Contact with and (suspected) exposure to other bacterial communicable diseases

ICD-10-CM Code:
Z20.81
ICD-10 Code for:
Contact w and exposure to oth bact communicable diseases
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
    (Z00–Z99)
    • Persons with potential health hazards related to communicable diseases
      (Z20-Z29)
      • Contact with and exposure to communicable diseases (Z20)
        (suspected)

Z20.81 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of contact with and (suspected) exposure to other bacterial communicable diseases. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2024 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. Category or Header define the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th characters.

Specific Coding Applicable to Contact w and exposure to oth bact communicable diseases

Non-specific codes like Z20.81 require more digits to indicate the appropriate level of specificity. Consider using any of the following ICD-10-CM codes with a higher level of specificity when coding for contact w and exposure to oth bact communicable diseases:

  • Use Z20.810 for Contact with and (suspected) exposure to anthrax - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use Z20.811 for Contact with and (suspected) exposure to meningococcus - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use Z20.818 for Contact with and (suspected) exposure to other bacterial communicable diseases - BILLABLE CODE

Patient Education


Bacterial Infections

Bacteria are living things that have only one cell. Under a microscope, they look like balls, rods, or spirals. They are so small that a line of 1,000 could fit across a pencil eraser. Most types of don't make you sick. Many types are helpful. Some of them help to digest food, destroy disease-causing cells, and give the body needed vitamins. Bacteria are also used in making healthy foods like yogurt and cheese.

But infectious bacteria can make you ill. They reproduce quickly in your body. Many give off chemicals called toxins, which can damage tissue and make you sick. Examples of bacteria that cause infections include Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and E. coli.

Antibiotics are the usual treatment. When you take antibiotics, follow the directions carefully. Each time you take antibiotics, you increase the chances that bacteria in your body will learn to resist them causing antibiotic resistance. Later, you could get or spread an infection that those antibiotics cannot cure.

NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.