Symptoms and signs specifically associated with systemic inflammation and infection (R65)
The ICD-10 code section R65 covers symptoms and signs linked to systemic inflammation and infection, including conditions like systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and severe sepsis. These codes help specify whether the inflammatory response is due to infection or other causes, and if organ dysfunction or shock is present.
The codes range from R65.10, which identifies non-infectious systemic inflammatory response syndrome without organ failure (sometimes called "non-infectious systemic inflammatory response syndrome without acute organ failure"), to R65.11, which includes acute organ dysfunction related to this syndrome. For infectious causes, R65.20 captures severe sepsis without septic shock, also referred to as sepsis syndrome, while R65.21 specifies severe sepsis with septic shock, a critical condition involving circulatory failure. Using these detailed ICD-10 codes for systemic inflammation and infection ensures accurate coding when diagnosing and treating inflammatory conditions that can severely impact multiple organs, guiding clinicians and coders in identifying the exact nature and severity of the patient's systemic illness.
Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00–R99)
General symptoms and signs (R50-R69)
R65 Symptoms and signs specifically associated with systemic inflammation and infection
R65.1 Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) of non-infectious origin
- R65.10 Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) of non-infectious origin without acute organ dysfunction
- R65.11 Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) of non-infectious origin with acute organ dysfunction
R65.2 Severe sepsis
- R65.20 Severe sepsis without septic shock
- R65.21 Severe sepsis with septic shock
Symptoms and signs specifically associated with systemic inflammation and infection (R65)
Clinical Terms
The following clinical terms provide additional context, helping users better understand the clinical background and common associations for each diagnosis listed in this section. Including related terms alongside ICD-10-CM codes supports coders, billers, and healthcare professionals in improving accuracy, enhancing documentation, and facilitating research or patient education.
Endotoxemia
A condition characterized by the presence of ENDOTOXINS in the blood. On lysis, the outer cell wall of gram-negative bacteria enters the systemic circulation and initiates a pathophysiologic cascade of pro-inflammatory mediators.
Endotoxins
Toxins closely associated with the living cytoplasm or cell wall of certain microorganisms, which do not readily diffuse into the culture medium, but are released upon lysis of the cells.
Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome
A systemic inflammatory response to a variety of clinical insults, characterized by two or more of the following conditions: (1) fever >38 degrees C or HYPOTHERMIA <36 degrees C; (2) TACHYCARDIA >90 beat/minute; (3) tachypnea >24 breaths/minute; (4) LEUKOCYTOSIS >12,000 cells/cubic mm or 10% immature forms. While usually related to infection, SIRS can also be associated with noninfectious insults such as TRAUMA; BURNS; or PANCREATITIS. If infection is involved, a patient with SIRS is said to have SEPSIS.
