2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z22.338Carrier of other streptococcus

ICD-10-CM Codes›Z00–Z99›Z20-Z29›Z22

ICD-10-CM Z22.338
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Z22.338 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for carrier of other streptococcus. 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 carrier of multiple drug resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Carrier status.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Z22.338
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Carrier of other streptococcus
Short Description
Carrier of other streptococcus
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Z22.33
Carrier of bacterial disease due to streptococci

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 CodeZ22.338Carrier of other streptococcus

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for Z22.338.

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

Z22.338 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.

  • Carrier of multiple drug resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae
  • Streptococcus 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
        • streptococcal
    • Carrier(suspected) of
      • streptococci

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

Streptococcal Infections

Strep is short for Streptococcus, a type of bacteria. There are several types. Two of them cause most of the strep infections in people: group A and group B.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert Z22.338 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
V02.52 Streptococus carrier NEC
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 Z22.338Overview

Is Z22.338 (Carrier of bacterial disease due to streptococci) a billable code?

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

Can Z22.338 be a principal diagnosis?

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

Is Z22.338 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 other streptococcus on inpatient claims.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of Z22.338?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, carrier of other streptococcus converts to ICD-9-CM V02.52 (streptococus carrier NEC). The mapping is a direct match.