2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code A54.42Gonococcal arthritis

ICD-10-CM Codes›A00–B99›A50-A64›A54

ICD-10-CM A54.42
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

A54.42 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for gonococcal arthritis. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 485 through 487, 548 through 550. Coders also document this condition as cutaneous gonorrhea. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Infective arthritis and Sexually transmitted infections (excluding HIV and hepatitis).

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
A54.42
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Gonococcal arthritis
Short Description
Gonococcal arthritis
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
A54.4
Gonococcal infection of musculoskeletal system

Code Classification

ChapterA00–B99Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
SectionA50-A64Infections with a predominantly sexual mode of transmission
CategoryA54Gonococcal infection
This CodeA54.42Gonococcal arthritis

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Cutaneous gonorrhea
  • Gonococcal arthritis dermatitis syndrome
  • Gonococcal infection of joint
  • Infection of musculoskeletal system caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Type 2 Excludes

  • gonococcal infection of spine A54.41

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.

    • Arthritis, arthritic(acute) (chronic) (nonpyogenic) (subacute)
      • blennorrhagic (gonococcal)
    • Arthritis, arthritic(acute) (chronic) (nonpyogenic) (subacute)
      • gonococcal
    • Gonococcus, gonococcal(disease) (infection)
      • joint
    • Gonococcus, gonococcal(disease) (infection)
      • musculoskeletal
        • arthritis
    • Hydrarthrosis
      • gonococcal
    • Periarthritis(joint)
      • gonococcal

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR MUS001
Infective arthritis
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient No
CCSR INF010
Sexually transmitted infections (excluding HIV and hepatitis)
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). It is most common in young adults. The bacteria that cause gonorrhea can infect the genital tract, mouth, or anus. You can get gonorrhea during vaginal, oral, or anal sex with an infected partner. A pregnant woman can pass it to her baby during childbirth.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert A54.42 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
098.50 Gonococcal arthritis
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 A54.42Overview

Is A54.42 (Gonococcal infection of musculoskeletal system) a billable code?

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

What MS-DRG does A54.42 group to?

When gonococcal arthritis is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 485, 486, 487, 548, 549, 550, with relative weights from 0.8741 to 3.2271 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of A54.42?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, gonococcal arthritis converts to ICD-9-CM 098.50 (gonococcal arthritis). The mapping is a direct match.

Footnotes

[1] Chronic - a chronic condition code indicates a condition lasting 12 months or longer and its effect on the patient based on one or both of the following criteria:

  • The condition results in the need for ongoing intervention with medical products,treatment, services, and special equipment
  • The condition places limitations on self-care, independent living, and social interactions.