R78.81 Bacteremia

Billable ICD-10-CM code, FY2026. Acts as a Complication or Comorbidity (CC) as a secondary diagnosis.

Excludes1 (never code together)

• sepsis-code to specified infection

Applies from R78 Findings of drugs and other substances, not normally found in blood

Excludes2 (not included here)

• mental or behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use (F10-F19)

Use additional code

• code to identify the any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)

MS-DRG index

Defines the logic of DRG(s) 791 in MDC 15.

Approximate ICD-9-CM (GEMs)

• 771.83 Bacteremia of newborn (approximate)
• 790.7 Bacteremia (approximate)

Code annotations containing back-references to R78.81

Back-references to R78.81

• Type 1 Excludes: A41 Other sepsis ("bacteremia NOS (R78.81)")
• Type 1 Excludes: A49.9 Bacterial infection, unspecified ("bacteremia NOS (R78.81)")

Back-references to R78

• Use Additional: Z02.83 Encounter for blood-alcohol and blood-drug test ("code for findings of alcohol or drugs in blood (R78.-)")

Diagnosis Index entries for R78.81

• Bacteremia
• Findings, abnormal, inconclusive, without diagnosis › culture › blood
• Positive › culture (nonspecific) › blood

Nearby codes

• R78.6 Finding of steroid agent in blood
• R78.7 Finding of abnormal level of heavy metals in blood
• R78.71 Abnormal lead level in blood
• R78.79 Finding of abnormal level of heavy metals in blood
• R78.8 Finding of other specified substances, not normally found in blood
• R78.81 Bacteremia (this code)
• R78.89 Finding of other specified substances, not normally found in blood
• R78.9 Finding of unspecified substance, not normally found in blood