2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code A39.53Meningococcal pericarditis

ICD-10-CM Codes›A00–B99›A30-A49›A39

ICD-10-CM A39.53
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

A39.53 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for meningococcal pericarditis. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 314 through 316, 791, 793. As a secondary diagnosis, it counts as a major complication or comorbidity (MCC) and places an inpatient stay in the highest severity level of its MS-DRG family. It does not count, however, when the principal diagnosis is one of 10 closely related codes. Coders also document this condition as acute bacterial pericarditis. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Bacterial infections and Pericarditis and pericardial disease.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
A39.53
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Meningococcal pericarditis
Short Description
Meningococcal pericarditis
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
A39.5
Meningococcal heart disease

Code Classification

ChapterA00–B99Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
SectionA30-A49Other bacterial diseases
CategoryA39Meningococcal infection
This CodeA39.53Meningococcal pericarditis

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Acute bacterial pericarditis
  • Acute meningococcal pericarditis
  • Meningococcal pericarditis

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR INF003
Bacterial infections
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient No
CCSR CIR006
Pericarditis and pericardial disease
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Meningococcal Disease

Meningococcal disease is the name for any illness that is caused by Neisseria meningitidis bacteria (also called meningococcal bacteria). These illnesses are often severe and can sometimes be deadly. They include infections of the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) and in the bloodstream (sepsis).

The full article covers:

  • What is meningococcal disease?
  • What causes meningococcal disease?
  • Who is more likely to get meningococcal disease?
  • What are the symptoms of meningococcal disease?
  • How is meningococcal disease diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for meningococcal disease?
  • Can meningococcal disease be prevented?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert A39.53 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
036.41 Meningococc pericarditis
Exact Match The mapping is direct, with no qualifiers.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About A39.53Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for meningococcal pericarditis?

The ICD-10-CM code for meningococcal pericarditis is A39.53 (sometimes written as A3953). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Is A39.53 (Meningococcal heart disease) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report meningococcal pericarditis on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does A39.53 group to?

When meningococcal pericarditis is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 314, 315, 316, 791, 793, with relative weights from 0.6821 to 4.1696 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Is A39.53 a CC or MCC?

CMS lists A39.53 as an MCC (major complication or comorbidity) for FY 2026. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, it places the inpatient stay in the highest-weighted DRG of its severity family. It does not count when the principal diagnosis is one of the 10 closely related codes in its exclusion list.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of A39.53?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, meningococcal pericarditis converts to ICD-9-CM 036.41 (meningococc pericarditis). The mapping is a direct match.