2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z22.31Carrier of bacterial disease due to meningococci

ICD-10-CM Codes›Z00–Z99›Z20-Z29›Z22

ICD-10-CM Z22.31
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Z22.31 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for carrier of bacterial disease due to meningococci. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). The code is not accepted as a principal diagnosis by the Medicare Code Editor and exempt from POA reporting. Coders also document this condition as meningococcus carrier. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Carrier status.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Z22.31
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Carrier of bacterial disease due to meningococci
Short Description
Carrier of bacterial disease due to meningococci
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Z22.3
Carrier of other specified bacterial diseases

Code Classification

ChapterZ00–Z99Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
SectionZ20-Z29Persons with potential health hazards related to communicable diseases
CategoryZ22Carrier of infectious disease
This CodeZ22.31Carrier of bacterial disease due to meningococci

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for Z22.31.

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.

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

Z22.31 is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review other POA exempt codes.

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Meningococcus carrier

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.

    • Carrier(suspected) of
      • bacterial disease NEC
        • meningococcal
    • Carrier(suspected) of
      • meningococci
    • Meningococcus, meningococcal
      • carrier (suspected) of

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR FAC024
Carrier status
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Meningococcal Disease

Meningococcal disease is the name for any illness that is caused by Neisseria meningitidis bacteria (also called meningococcal bacteria). These illnesses are often severe and can sometimes be deadly. They include infections of the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) and in the bloodstream (sepsis).

The full article covers:

  • What is meningococcal disease?
  • What causes meningococcal disease?
  • Who is more likely to get meningococcal disease?
  • What are the symptoms of meningococcal disease?
  • How is meningococcal disease diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for meningococcal disease?
  • Can meningococcal disease be prevented?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert Z22.31 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
V02.59 Bacteria dis carrier NEC
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 Z22.31Overview

Is Z22.31 (Carrier of other specified bacterial diseases) a billable code?

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

Can Z22.31 be a principal diagnosis?

No. The Medicare Code Editor rejects this code as a principal diagnosis because carrier of bacterial disease due to meningococci describes a circumstance that influences health status rather than a current illness. Report it as a secondary diagnosis.

Is Z22.31 exempt from POA reporting?

Yes. CMS lists this code among those exempt from present on admission reporting, so hospitals do not assign a POA indicator for carrier of bacterial disease due to meningococci on inpatient claims.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of Z22.31?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, carrier of bacterial disease due to meningococci converts to ICD-9-CM V02.59 (bacteria dis carrier NEC). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.