ICD-9 Code 960.9

Poisoning by unspecified antibiotic

Not Valid for Submission

960.9 is a legacy non-billable code used to specify a medical diagnosis of poisoning by unspecified antibiotic. This code was replaced on September 30, 2015 by its ICD-10 equivalent.

ICD-9: 960.9
Short Description:Poisoning-antibiotic NOS
Long Description:Poisoning by unspecified antibiotic

Convert 960.9 to ICD-10

The following crosswalk between ICD-9 to ICD-10 is based based on the General Equivalence Mappings (GEMS) information:

  • T36.91XA - Poisoning by unsp systemic antibiotic, accidental, init
  • T36.92XA - Poisoning by unsp systemic antibiotic, self-harm, init
  • T36.93XA - Poisoning by unsp systemic antibiotic, assault, init encntr
  • T36.94XA - Poisoning by unsp systemic antibiotic, undetermined, init

Code Classification

  • Injury and poisoning (800–999)
    • Poisoning by drugs, medicinals and biological substances (960-979)
      • 960 Poisoning by antibiotics

Information for Medical Professionals

Information for Patients


Antibiotics

What are antibiotics?

Antibiotics are medicines that fight bacterial infections in people and animals. They work by killing the bacteria or by making it hard for the bacteria to grow and multiply.

Antibiotics can be taken in different ways:

  • Orally (by mouth). This could be pills, capsules, or liquids.
  • Topically. This might be a cream, spray, or ointment that you put on your skin. It could also be eye ointment, eye drops, or ear drops.
  • Through an injection or intravenously (IV). This is usually for more serious infections.

What do antibiotics treat?

Antibiotics only treat certain bacterial infections, such as strep throat, urinary tract infections, and E. coli.

You may not need to take antibiotics for some bacterial infections. For example, you might not need them for many sinus infections or some ear infections. Taking antibiotics when they're not needed won't help you, and they can have side effects. Your health care provider can decide the best treatment for you when you're sick. Don't ask your provider to prescribe an antibiotic for you.

Do antibiotics treat viral infections?

Antibiotics do not work on viral infections. For example, you shouldn't take antibiotics for:

  • Colds and runny noses, even if the mucus is thick, yellow, or green
  • Most sore throats (except strep throat)
  • Flu
  • Most cases of bronchitis

What are the side effects of antibiotics?

The side effects of antibiotics range from minor to very severe. Some of the common side effects include:

  • Rash
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Yeast infections

More serious side effects can include:

  • C. diff infections, which cause diarrhea that can lead to severe colon damage and sometimes even death
  • Severe and life-threatening allergic reactions
  • Antibiotic resistance infections

Call your health care provider if you develop any side effects while taking your antibiotic.

Why is it important to take antibiotics only when they're needed?

You should only take antibiotics when they are needed because they can cause side effects and can contribute to antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance happens when the bacteria change and become able to resist the effects of an antibiotic. This means that the bacteria continue to grow.

How do I use antibiotics correctly?

When you take antibiotics, it is important that you take them responsibly:

  • Always follow the directions carefully. Finish your medicine even if you feel better. If you stop taking them too soon, some bacteria may survive and re-infect you.
  • Don't save your antibiotics for later.
  • Don't share your antibiotic with others.
  • Don't take antibiotics prescribed for someone else. This may delay the best treatment for you, make you even sicker, or cause side effects.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


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ICD-9 Footnotes

General Equivalence Map Definitions
The ICD-9 and ICD-10 GEMs are used to facilitate linking between the diagnosis codes in ICD-9-CM and the new ICD-10-CM code set. The GEMs are the raw material from which providers, health information vendors and payers can derive specific applied mappings to meet their needs.

  • Approximate Flag - The approximate flag is on, indicating that the relationship between the code in the source system and the code in the target system is an approximate equivalent.
  • No Map Flag - The no map flag indicates that a code in the source system is not linked to any code in the target system.
  • Combination Flag - The combination flag indicates that more than one code in the target system is required to satisfy the full equivalent meaning of a code in the source system.