Bacterial infection of unspecified site (A49) ICD-10-CM
The A49 code range covers bacterial infection of unspecified site with 9 ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes. 7 of them are billable and valid for claim submission in fiscal year 2026, and the category headers group them but cannot themselves be billed.
Type 1 Excludes
A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.
Codes in the A49 Range 9 codes · 7 billable
- A49 Bacterial infection of unspecified siteNon-billable
- A49.0 Staphylococcal infection, unspecified siteNon-billable
- A49.01 Methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus infection, unspecified site
- A49.02 Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection, unspecified site
- A49.1 Streptococcal infection, unspecified site
- A49.2 Hemophilus influenzae infection, unspecified site
- A49.3 Mycoplasma infection, unspecified site
- A49.8 Other bacterial infections of unspecified site
- A49.9 Bacterial infection, unspecified
About the A49 Code Range
ICD-10 code section A49 covers bacterial infections of unspecified sites, providing a classification when the exact location of the infection is unknown. This section includes various codes for infections caused by different bacteria like Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Haemophilus influenzae, Mycoplasma, and other less common bacterial agents.
These codes, such as A49.0 for staphylococcal infections or A49.1 for streptococcal infections at unspecified locations, are used when the infection is diagnosed but not clearly linked to a specific body site. Some subcodes specify resistant strains, for example, A49.02 identifies methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection, commonly known as MRSA. The synonyms provided, like "Staphylococcal infectious disease" or "Pneumococcal infectious disease," help coders connect common infection names to the correct ICD-10 code. Additionally, A49.9 captures unspecified bacterial infections broadly, including terms like "bacterial respiratory infection" or "bacterial skin infection." When documentation lacks site detail yet identifies the bacterial cause, these codes are the appropriate choice for accurate medical coding and reporting.
Questions About This Page
How many billable codes are in the A49 range?
Of the 9 codes in this range, 7 are billable and valid for claim submission from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. Category header codes group them but cannot be reported on claims.
What does the A49 range classify?
The range classifies bacterial infection of unspecified site. Each code links to its own reference page with billing status, MS-DRG grouping, coding notes, and clinical information.
Related References
Source: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM Tabular List and order file, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
