2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code B96.20Unspecified Escherichia coli [E. coli] as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere

ICD-10-CM Codes›A00–B99›B95-B97›B96

ICD-10-CM B96.20
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

B96.20 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for unspecified Escherichia coli [E. coli] as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 867 through 869. The code is not accepted as a principal diagnosis by the Medicare Code Editor. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Bacterial infections.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
B96.20
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Unspecified Escherichia coli [E. coli] as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere
Short Description
Unsp Escherichia coli as the cause of diseases classd elswhr
Parent Code
B96.2
Escherichia coli [E. coli ] as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere

Code Classification

ChapterA00–B99Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
SectionB95-B97Bacterial and viral infectious agents
CategoryB96Other bacterial agents as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere
This CodeB96.20Unspecified Escherichia coli [E. coli] as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for B96.20.

Unacceptable principal diagnosis
There are selected codes that describe a circumstance which influences an individual's health status but not a current illness or injury, or codes that are not specific manifestations but may be due to an underlying cause. These codes are considered unacceptable as a principal diagnosis.

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Arthritis caused by Escherichia coli
  • Coliform urinary tract infection
  • Early neonatal infection caused by bacterium
  • Early neonatal infection caused by Escherichia coli
  • Escherichia coli infection of the central nervous system
  • Escherichia coli intra-amniotic fetal infection
  • Escherichia coli meningitis
  • Fetal infection caused by bacterium
  • Fetal infection caused by Escherichia coli
  • Infection caused by Escherichia coli
  • Infection caused by Escherichia coli O157
  • Infection of amniotic cavity
  • Intra-amniotic fetal infection
  • Neonatal bacterial dacryocystitis
  • Neonatal colibacillosis
  • Neonatal dacryocystitis
  • Neonatal dacryocystitis caused by Escherichia coli
  • Neonatal dacryocystitis or conjunctivitis caused by Escherichia coli
  • Neonatal urinary tract infection
  • Neonatal urinary tract infection caused by Escherichia coli
  • Urinary tract infection caused by Escherichia coli

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to B96.20: its own notes plus those printed at block B95-B97 and Chapter 1. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Includes

Further defines, or gives examples of, the content of the category.

From Chapter 1 (A00-B99) Certain infectious and parasitic diseases applies to 1,068 codes
  • diseases generally recognized as communicable or transmissible

Applicable To

Conditions this code is used for: synonyms of the title or, for "other specified" codes, the conditions assigned to it. The list is not exhaustive.

  • Escherichia coli [E. coli] NOS

Excludes2

Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.

From Chapter 1 (A00-B99) Certain infectious and parasitic diseases applies to 1,068 codes
  • carrier or suspected carrier of infectious disease (Z22.-)
  • certain localized infections - see body system-related chapters
  • infectious and parasitic diseases complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O98.-)
  • infectious and parasitic diseases specific to the perinatal period (P35-P39)
  • influenza and other acute respiratory infections (J00-J22)

Use Additional Code

Add a second code, after this one, to fully describe the condition.

From Chapter 1 (A00-B99) Certain infectious and parasitic diseases applies to 1,068 codes
  • code to identify resistance to antimicrobial drugs (Z16.-)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Block B95-B97 Bacterial and viral infectious agents applies to 46 codes
  • These categories are provided for use as supplementary or additional codes to identify the infectious agent(s) in diseases classified elsewhere.

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name B96.20, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming B96.20: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • A49 Bacterial infection of unspecified site
    bacterial agents as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere (B95-B96) names B95-B96, which includes this code

Use Additional Code 66

These codes say to use an additional code from the note, and B96.20 is one of the codes named.

  • A48.3 Toxic shock syndrome
    code to identify the organism (B95, B96) names B96, which includes this code
  • D59.31 Infection-associated hemolytic-uremic syndrome
    E. coli infection (B96.2-) names B96.2-, which includes this code
  • G00.8 Other bacterial meningitis
    code to further identify organism (B96.-) names B96.-, which includes this code
  • J95.851 Ventilator associated pneumonia
    code to identify the organism, if known (B95.-, B96.-, B97.-) names B96.-, which includes this code
  • K95.01 Infection due to gastric band procedure
    bacterial and viral infectious agents (B95.-, B96.-) names B96.-, which includes this code
  • K95.81 Infection due to other bariatric procedure
    bacterial and viral infectious agents (B95.-, B96.-) names B96.-, which includes this code
  • M00.8 Arthritis and polyarthritis due to other bacteria
    code (B96) to identify bacteria names B96, which includes this code
  • M71.0 Abscess of bursa
    code (B95.-, B96.-) to identify causative organism names B96.-, which includes this code
  • M71.1 Other infective bursitis
    code (B95.-, B96.-) to identify causative organism names B96.-, which includes this code
  • M72.6 Necrotizing fasciitis
    code (B95.-, B96.-) to identify causative organism names B96.-, which includes this code
  • M72.8 Other fibroblastic disorders
    code to (B95.-, B96.-) identify causative organism names B96.-, which includes this code
  • O23 Infections of genitourinary tract in pregnancy
    code to identify organism (B95.-, B96.-) names B96.-, which includes this code
  • P36.8 Other bacterial sepsis of newborn
    code from category B96 to identify organism names B96, which includes this code
  • E06.0 Acute thyroiditis
    code (B95-B97) to identify infectious agent. names B95-B97, which includes this code
  • G06 Intracranial and intraspinal abscess and granuloma
    code (B95-B97) to identify infectious agent. names B95-B97, which includes this code

51 more Use Additional Code notes name this code. Browse all Use Additional Code notes.

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

Patient EducationClinical

E. coli Infections

E. coli is the name of a type of bacteria that lives in your intestines. Most types of E. coli are harmless. However, some types can make you sick and cause diarrhea. One type causes travelers' diarrhea. The worst type of E. coli causes bloody diarrhea, and can sometimes cause kidney failure and even death.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert B96.20 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
041.49 E.coli infection NEC/NOS
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About B96.20Overview

Is B96.20 a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report unspecified Escherichia coli [E. coli] as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What MS-DRG does B96.20 group to?

On inpatient claims, unspecified Escherichia coli [E. coli] as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere maps to MS-DRG 867, 869, 868, with relative weights from 0.6784 to 2.1855 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Can B96.20 be a principal diagnosis?

No. The Medicare Code Editor rejects this code as a principal diagnosis because unspecified Escherichia coli [E. coli] as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere describes a circumstance that influences health status rather than a current illness. Report it as a secondary diagnosis.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of B96.20?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, unspecified Escherichia coli [E. coli] as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere converts to ICD-9-CM 041.49 (e.coli infection NEC/NOS). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.