2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M46.36Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), lumbar region

ICD-10-CM Codes›M00–M99›M45-M49›M46

ICD-10-CM M46.36
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

M46.36 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), lumbar region. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 456 through 458, 539 through 541. Coders also document this condition as infection of intervertebral disc - pyogenic. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Spondylopathies/spondyloarthropathy (including infective).

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
M46.36
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), lumbar region
Short Description
Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), lumbar region
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
M46.3
Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic)

Code Classification

ChapterM00–M99Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
SectionM45-M49Spondylopathies
CategoryM46Other inflammatory spondylopathies
This CodeM46.36Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), lumbar region

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Infection of intervertebral disc - pyogenic
  • Lumbar discitis
  • Pyogenic infection of lumbar intervertebral disc

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.

    • Infection, infected, infective(opportunistic)
      • intervertebral disc, pyogenic
        • lumbar region

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR MUS011
Spondylopathies/spondyloarthropathy (including infective)
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Spine Injuries and Disorders

Your backbone, or spine, is made up of 26 bone discs called vertebrae. The vertebrae protect your spinal cord and allow you to stand and bend. A number of problems can change the structure of the spine or damage the vertebrae and surrounding tissue. They include:

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert M46.36 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
730.98 Bone infect NOS-oth site
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 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About M46.36Overview

Is M46.36 (Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic)) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), lumbar region on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does M46.36 group to?

When infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), lumbar region is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 456, 457, 458, 539, 540, 541, with relative weights from 0.7715 to 8.4034 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of M46.36?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), lumbar region converts to ICD-9-CM 730.98 (bone infect NOS-oth site). 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.