2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code A41.50Gram-negative sepsis, unspecified

ICD-10-CM Codes›A00–B99›A30-A49›A41

ICD-10-CM A41.50
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

A41.50 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for gram-negative sepsis, unspecified. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 870 through 872, 974 through 976. Coders also document this condition as bacteremia caused by Gram-negative bacteria. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Bacterial infections and Septicemia.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
A41.50
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Gram-negative sepsis, unspecified
Short Description
Gram-negative sepsis, unspecified
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
A41.5
Sepsis due to other Gram-negative organisms

Code Classification

ChapterA00–B99Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
SectionA30-A49Other bacterial diseases
CategoryA41Other sepsis
This CodeA41.50Gram-negative sepsis, unspecified

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Bacteremia caused by Gram-negative bacteria
  • Sepsis caused by coliform bacteria
  • Sepsis caused by Gram negative bacteria

Tabular List NotesGuidance

Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.

Inclusion Terms

  • Gram-negative sepsis NOS

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.

    • Sepsis(generalized) (unspecified organism)
      • Gram-negative (organism)

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR INF003
Bacterial infections
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient No
CCSR INF002
Septicemia
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Sepsis

Sepsis is your body's overactive and extreme response to an infection. Sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency. Without quick treatment, it can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and even death.

The full article covers:

  • What is sepsis?
  • What causes sepsis?
  • Who is more likely to develop sepsis?
  • What are the symptoms of sepsis?
  • What other problems can sepsis cause?
  • How is sepsis diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for sepsis?
  • Can sepsis be prevented?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert A41.50 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
038.40 Gram-neg septicemia NOS
ApproximateCombination The match is approximate, and more than one code can be needed to describe the source diagnosis. Confirm with contextual judgment.
ICD-9-CM
995.91 Sepsis
ApproximateCombination The match is approximate, and more than one code can be needed to describe the source diagnosis. Confirm with contextual judgment.

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 A41.50Overview

Is A41.50 (Sepsis due to other Gram-negative organisms) a billable code?

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

What MS-DRG does A41.50 group to?

When gram-negative sepsis, unspecified is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 870, 871, 872, 974, 975, 976, with relative weights from 0.8945 to 6.9118 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of A41.50?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, gram-negative sepsis, unspecified converts to ICD-9-CM 038.40 (gram-neg septicemia NOS) and 995.91 (sepsis). 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.