Wiki New Definition for Sepsis and Septic Shock

[Claudia Yoakum-Watson]

In February 2016, the AMA published the new definitions for sepsis and septic shock based on the "Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis 3)". In summary, this is what it states

[*]Septicemia is the same as sepsis

[*]SIRS was removed from sepsis

[*]Sepsis is now defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection.

[*]Because of the inclusion of organ dysfunction to sepsis, severe sepsis is redundant and no longer clinical relevant.

[*]Septic Shock is defined as a subset of sepsis in which particularly profound circulatory, cellular, and metabolic abnormalities are associated with a greater risk of mortality than with sepsis alone

Based on this clinical criteria, when would codes from Chapter 1 (A40.xx) for septicemia be used?

Hopefully, someone else has pondered this and will have more information. Thanks and happy coding, Claudia

 

[Claudia Yoakum-Watson]

Sepsis vs. Severe Sepsis

Here's a follow up question. Since the change in definition for sepsis, I'd like to get an understanding of what the industry is doing.

How would the following two scenarios be coded? Thanks.

The documentation states


1. "sepsis with acute renal failure due to E.Coli"



2. "severe sepsis with acute renal failure due to E. Coli."

Again thanks.