2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code A04.72Enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile, not specified as recurrent

ICD-10-CM Codes›A00–B99›A00-A09›A04

ICD-10-CM A04.72
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

A04.72 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile, not specified as recurrent. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 371 through 373. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Bacterial infections and Intestinal infection.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
A04.72
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile, not specified as recurrent
Short Description
Enterocolitis d/t Clostridium difficile, not spcf as recur
Parent Code
A04.7
Enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile

Code Classification

ChapterA00–B99Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
SectionA00-A09Intestinal infectious diseases
CategoryA04Other bacterial intestinal infections
This CodeA04.72Enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile, not specified as recurrent

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Clostridial enteric disease
  • Clostridial gastroenteritis
  • Clostridioides difficile infection
  • Clostridium difficile colitis
  • Clostridium difficile diarrhea
  • Clostridium difficile food poisoning
  • Clostridium difficile toxin A detected
  • Intestinal infection caused by Clostridioides difficile
  • Secondary acquired megacolon
  • Toxic megacolon due to Clostridium difficile infection
  • Toxic state
  • Toxic state due to colonic dilatation

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Colitis(acute) (catarrhal) (chronic) (noninfective) (hemorrhagic)
      • Clostridioides difficile
        • not specified as recurrent
    • Colitis(acute) (catarrhal) (chronic) (noninfective) (hemorrhagic)
      • Clostridium difficile
        • not specified as recurrent
    • Colitis(acute) (catarrhal) (chronic) (noninfective) (hemorrhagic)
      • pseudomembranous
        • not specified as recurrent
    • Colitis(acute) (catarrhal) (chronic) (noninfective) (hemorrhagic)
      • toxic NEC
        • due to
          • Clostridioides difficile
            • not specified as recurrent
    • Colitis(acute) (catarrhal) (chronic) (noninfective) (hemorrhagic)
      • toxic NEC
        • due to
          • Clostridium difficile
            • not specified as recurrent
    • Diarrhea, diarrheal(disease) (infantile) (inflammatory)
      • due to
        • Clostridium difficile
          • not specified as recurrent
    • Enteritis(acute) (diarrheal) (hemorrhagic) (noninfective)
      • Clostridioides difficile
        • not specified as recurrent
    • Enteritis(acute) (diarrheal) (hemorrhagic) (noninfective)
      • Clostridium
        • difficile
          • not specified as recurrent
    • Enteritis(acute) (diarrheal) (hemorrhagic) (noninfective)
      • infectious NOS
        • due to
          • Clostridioides difficile
            • not specified as recurrent
    • Enteritis(acute) (diarrheal) (hemorrhagic) (noninfective)
      • infectious NOS
        • due to
          • Clostridium difficile
            • not specified as recurrent
    • Enteritis(acute) (diarrheal) (hemorrhagic) (noninfective)
      • toxic NEC
        • due to
          • Clostridioides difficile
            • not specified as recurrent
    • Enteritis(acute) (diarrheal) (hemorrhagic) (noninfective)
      • toxic NEC
        • due to
          • Clostridium difficile
            • not specified as recurrent
    • Enterocolitis
      • due to
        • Clostridioides difficile
          • not specified as recurrent
    • Enterocolitis
      • due to
        • Clostridium difficile
          • not specified as recurrent
    • Enterocolitis
      • necrotizing
        • due to
          • Clostridioides difficile
            • not specified as recurrent
    • Enterocolitis
      • necrotizing
        • due to
          • Clostridium difficile
            • not specified as recurrent
    • Enterocolitis
      • pseudomembranous (newborn)
        • not specified as recurrent
    • Infection, infected, infective(opportunistic)
      • Clostridioides
        • difficile
          • foodborne (disease)
            • not specified as recurrent
    • Infection, infected, infective(opportunistic)
      • Clostridioides
        • difficile
          • necrotizing enterocolitis
            • not specified as recurrent
    • Infection, infected, infective(opportunistic)
      • Clostridium NEC
        • difficile
          • foodborne (disease)
            • not specified as recurrent
    • Infection, infected, infective(opportunistic)
      • Clostridium NEC
        • difficile
          • necrotizing enterocolitis
            • not specified as recurrent
    • Megacolon(acquired) (functional) (not Hirschsprung's disease) (in)
      • toxic NEC
        • due to
          • Clostridioides difficile
            • not specified as recurrent
    • Megacolon(acquired) (functional) (not Hirschsprung's disease) (in)
      • toxic NEC
        • due to
          • Clostridium difficile
            • not specified as recurrent

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR INF003
Bacterial infections
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient No
CCSR DIG001
Intestinal infection
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

C. diff Infections

C. diff is a bacterium that can cause diarrhea and more serious intestinal conditions such as colitis. You may see it called other names, such as Clostridioides difficile (the new name), Clostridium difficile (an older name), and C. difficile. It causes close to half a million illnesses each year.

The full article covers:

  • What is C. diff?
  • What causes C. diff infections?
  • Who is more likely to get a C. diff infection?
  • What are the symptoms of C. diff infections?
  • How are C. diff infections diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for C. diff infections?
  • Can C. diff infections be prevented?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Convert A04.72 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
008.45 Int inf clstrdium dfcile
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

Code History & ChangesHistory

Replacement A04.72 replaces the following previously assigned code(s):

  • A04.7 - Enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile
FY 2018AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2017.
FY 2019–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About A04.72Overview

Is A04.72 (Enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile, not specified as recurrent on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does A04.72 group to?

When enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile, not specified as recurrent is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 371, 372, 373, with relative weights from 0.7274 to 1.7731 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of A04.72?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile, not specified as recurrent converts to ICD-9-CM 008.45 (int inf clstrdium dfcile). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.