ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting directs us that when sepsis or severe sepsis is documented as being associated with a noninfectious condition, such as a burn or serious injury, and this condition meets the definition for principal diagnosis, the code for the noninfectious condition should be ...

Is sepsis always coded first?

When sepsis is present on admission and due to a localized infection (not a device or post procedural), the sepsis code is sequenced first followed by the code for the localized infection.

When coding sepsis and severe sepsis which code should be sequenced first?

If the patient's reason for admission is sepsis or severe sepsis or SIRS and a localized infection such as cellulitis, the code for the systemic infection is sequenced first, followed by code 995.91 or 995.92, then the code for the localized infection.