2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R78.81Bacteremia

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R70-R79›R78

ICD-10-CM R78.81
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

R78.81 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for bacteremia. 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. As a symptom code, it should not be used as a principal diagnosis once a related definitive diagnosis has been established. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Abnormal findings without diagnosis.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
R78.81
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Bacteremia
Short Description
Bacteremia
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
R78.8
Finding of other specified substances, not normally found in blood

Code Classification

ChapterR00–R99Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
SectionR70-R79Abnormal findings on examination of blood, without diagnosis
CategoryR78Findings of drugs and other substances, not normally found in blood
This CodeR78.81Bacteremia

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Bacteremia
  • Bacteremia associated with intravascular line
  • Bacteremia caused by Chromobacterium
  • Bacteremia caused by Clostridium
  • Bacteremia caused by coliform bacteria
  • Bacteremia caused by Enterococcus
  • Bacteremia caused by Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae
  • Bacteremia caused by Gram-positive bacteria
  • Bacteremia caused by Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus
  • Bacteremia caused by Proteus
  • Bacteremia caused by Pseudomonas
  • Bacteremia caused by Staphylococcus aureus
  • Bacteremic skin rash
  • Organism isolated in blood by culture
  • Postoperative bacteremia

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Type 1 Excludes

  • sepsis-code to specified infection

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.

    • Bacteremia
    • Findings, abnormal, inconclusive, without diagnosis
      • culture
        • blood
    • Positive
      • culture (nonspecific)
        • blood

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR SYM017
Abnormal findings without diagnosis
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Bacteremia

    the presence of viable bacteria circulating in the blood. fever, chills, tachycardia, and tachypnea are common acute manifestations of bacteremia. the majority of cases are seen in already hospitalized patients, most of whom have underlying diseases or procedures which render their bloodstreams susceptible to invasion.

  • Hemorrhagic Septicemia

    any of several bacterial diseases, usually caused by pasteurella multocida, marked by the presence of hemorrhagic areas in the subcutaneous tissues, serous membranes, muscles, lymph glands, and throughout the internal organs. the diseases primarily affect animals and rarely humans.

  • Pasteurella multocida

    a species of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria normally found in the flora of the mouth and respiratory tract of animals and birds. it causes shipping fever (see pasteurellosis, pneumonic); hemorrhagic bacteremia; and intestinal disease in animals. in humans, disease usually arises from a wound infection following a bite or scratch from domesticated animals.

  • Bacteremia

    a laboratory test result that indicates the presence of bacteria in the blood.

  • Bacteremia, CTCAE|Bacteremia

    a disorder characterized by the presence of bacteria in the blood stream.

  • Cordonnier Grade 2 Bacterial Complication, Bacteremia without Severe Sepsis|Grade 2 Bacteremia without Severe Sepsis

    any bacteremia without severe sepsis.

  • Cordonnier Grade 3 Bacterial Complication, Bacteremia with Severe Sepsis|Grade 3 Bacterial Infection Bacteremia with Severe Sepsis

    any bacteremia with severe sepsis.

  • Cordonnier Grade 3 Bacterial Complication, Complex Bacteremia|Grade 3 Complex Bacteremia

    any complex bacteremia with deep organ involvement.

  • Grade 2 Bacteremia, CTCAE|Grade 2 Bacteremia

    blood culture positive with no signs or symptoms

  • Hemodialysis Catheter-Associated Bacteremia

    the presence of bacteria in the blood caused by an infected hemodialysis catheter.

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 R78.81 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
771.83 Bacteremia of newborn
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
790.7 Bacteremia
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 R78.81Overview

Is R78.81 a billable code?

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

What MS-DRG does R78.81 group to?

When bacteremia is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 870, 871, 872, with relative weights from 1.0233 to 6.9118 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Can R78.81 be a principal diagnosis?

Use it with care. This is a symptom code, so once a definitive diagnosis explaining the bacteremia is established, that condition takes the principal position instead.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of R78.81?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, bacteremia converts to ICD-9-CM 771.83 (bacteremia of newborn) and 790.7 (bacteremia). 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.