2025 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code A04
Other bacterial intestinal infections
- ICD-10-CM Code:
- A04
- ICD-10 Code for:
- Other bacterial intestinal infections
- Is Billable?
- Not Valid for Submission
- Code Navigator:
A04 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of other bacterial intestinal infections. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2025 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 Other bacterial intestinal infections
Non-specific codes like A04 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 other bacterial intestinal infections:
Use A04.0 for Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli infection - BILLABLE CODE
Use A04.1 for Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli infection - BILLABLE CODE
Use A04.2 for Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli infection - BILLABLE CODE
Use A04.3 for Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli infection - BILLABLE CODE
Use A04.4 for Other intestinal Escherichia coli infections - BILLABLE CODE
Use A04.5 for Campylobacter enteritis - BILLABLE CODE
Use A04.6 for Enteritis due to Yersinia enterocolitica - BILLABLE CODE
A04.7 for Enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile - NON-BILLABLE CODE
Use A04.71 for Enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile, recurrent - BILLABLE CODE
Use A04.72 for Enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile, not specified as recurrent - BILLABLE CODE
Use A04.8 for Other specified bacterial intestinal infections - BILLABLE CODE
Use A04.9 for Bacterial intestinal infection, unspecified - BILLABLE CODE
Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries
The following annotation back-references are applicable to this diagnosis code. The Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries is a list of ICD-10-CM codes, organized "head to toe" into chapters and sections with coding notes and guidance for inclusions, exclusions, descriptions and more.
Type 1 Excludes
Type 1 ExcludesA type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.
Patient Education
Bacterial Infections
What are bacteria?
Bacteria are tiny organisms (living things) that have only one cell. Under a microscope, they look like balls, rods, or spirals. They can be found almost everywhere on Earth. There are lots of bacteria in and on your body. In fact, your body has about 10 times more bacteria cells than human cells.
There are many different types of bacteria. Most types don't make you sick. Some types are helpful. For example, "good" bacteria in your digestive system can help your body digest food and absorb vitamins and minerals. They can help protect you from getting sick. Bacteria are also used in making foods like yogurt and cheese.
But some types of bacteria can cause an infection and make you sick. They are called infectious bacteria. These bacteria can reproduce quickly in your body. Many of them give off toxins (poisons) that can damage your cells and make you sick. Other types can move into and damage your tissues. A few examples of bacteria that cause infections include Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and E. coli.
How do bacterial infections spread?
There are different ways that bacterial infections may spread:
- Through droplets and particles that are breathed out by someone who has the infection. You might breathe in the droplets or particles, or they could land on your mouth, nose, or eyes.
- By touching surfaces or objects that have the bacteria on them and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.
- Through cuts, scrapes, and skin-to-skin contact with someone who has the infection.
- From the pregnant parent to the baby during pregnancy.
- Through contaminated food or water.
- By being bitten by an infected insect or animal.
- Through sexual contact (usually vaginal, anal and oral sex) with someone who has the infection.
What are the treatments for bacterial infections?
Sometimes your immune system may be able to fight off a bacterial infection. But when you do need treatment, it will be with antibiotics.
When you take antibiotics, follow the directions carefully. Each time you take them, there is a risk that the bacteria will become resistant to the effects of the antibiotics. This is called antibiotic resistance. When this happens, the bacteria are not killed, and they continue to grow. They can cause resistant infections, which can be difficult, and sometimes impossible, to treat.Can bacterial infections be prevented?
You can help prevent some bacterial infections by:
- Getting vaccines that protect against bacterial infections.
- Having good hygiene habits. These include washing your hands often and covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
- Paying attention to food safety.
- Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces that your frequently touch.
- Preventing insect bites by using a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent. when you go outdoors. If you travel to an area that has a high risk of diseases from insect bites, also wear long pants, shirts, and socks.
- Practicing safe sex. This means using a latex condom every time you have anal, vaginal, or oral sex. If your or your partner is allergic to latex, you can use polyurethane condoms.
- Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
[Learn More in MedlinePlus]
Gastroenteritis
What is gastroenteritis?
Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines. The main symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea. It is usually not serious in healthy people, but it can sometimes lead to dehydration or cause severe symptoms.
What causes gastroenteritis?
There can be many different causes of gastroenteritis:
- Viruses
- Bacteria
- Parasites
- Chemicals
- Reactions to certain medicines and food
Viral gastroenteritis is the most common type. It can be caused by many different viruses, including noroviruses and rotaviruses. Some people call viral gastroenteritis the "stomach flu." But this name is not medically correct. It is not caused by flu viruses. The flu is a respiratory infection that affects your nose, throat and lungs.
When gastroenteritis is caused by consuming foods or drinks contaminated with viruses, bacteria, parasites, or chemicals, this is called food poisoning.
The viruses, bacteria, and parasites that cause gastroenteritis can also spread from person to person. You could be infected when you touch something that has the germs on it and then touch your eyes, mouth, or nose.
What are the symptoms of gastroenteritis?
The symptoms of gastroenteritis include:
- Diarrhea
- Pain or cramping in your abdomen (belly)
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Sometimes fever
Gastroenteritis is usually not serious. But it can sometimes cause lead to dehydration or cause severe symptoms. Certain people are at higher risk for these problems. They include:
- Pregnant women
- Older adults
- People with weakened immune systems or other serious health conditions
- Infants
- Babies who were born prematurely or have other health conditions
If you or a family member are at higher risk and have symptoms of gastroenteritis, contact a health care provider right away. Even if you are not at high risk, it is possible to become dehydrated or have more serious symptoms. There are some warning signs to watch for. It's important to contact a provider right away if you or your child have any of them:
- For adults, they include:
- Change in mental state, such as irritability or lack of energy
- Diarrhea lasting more than 2 days
- High fever
- Vomiting often
- Six or more loose stools in a day
- Severe pain in the abdomen (belly) or rectum
- Stools that are black and tarry or contain blood or pus
- Symptoms of dehydration, such as thirst, dry mouth, headache, dark-colored urine, and urinating less than normal
- For infants and children, they include:
- Change in the child's mental state, such as irritability or lack of energy
- Diarrhea lasting more than a day
- Any fever in infants
- High fever in older children
- Frequent loose stools
- Vomiting often
- Severe pain in the abdomen (belly) or rectum
- Signs or symptoms of dehydration, such as thirst, dry mouth, urinating less than usual or no wet diapers for 3 hours or more, and no tears when crying
- Stools that are black and tarry or contain blood or pus
How is gastroenteritis diagnosed?
To find out if you have gastroenteritis, your provider:
- Will do a physical exam
- Will ask about your symptoms
- May do tests of your stool
What are the treatments for gastroenteritis?
Usually, people with gastroenteritis get better on their own, with rest and plenty of fluids and electrolytes. Your provider may suggest that you take a probiotic. Studies suggest that some probiotics may help shorten a case of diarrhea.
People with more severe symptoms may need medicines to control nausea or vomiting. Providers may also give other medicines for certain types of gastroenteritis, such as antibiotics for some bacterial types and antiparasitic medicines for some parasitic types.
Can gastroenteritis be prevented?
Gastroenteritis cannot always be prevented. But proper hand washing, cleaning surfaces that may be infected with germs, and safe food preparation may help prevent some of the infections that can cause gastroenteritis. There are vaccines for infants to protect against rotavirus infections.
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
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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.