J15.212 Pneumonia due to Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus

The ICD-10-CM code for Pneumonia due to Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus is J15.212 (FY2026). It is a billable, claim-ready diagnosis code.

Classification

Chapter

10: Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99)

Section

J09-J18: Influenza and pneumonia (J09-J18)

Category J15

18 codes (14 billable)

FY2026 Status

Stable since FY2024

Also Known As

ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index entries that lead to J15.212:

• Pneumonia (acute) (double) (migratory) (purulent) (septic) (unresolved) › MRSA (Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
• Pneumonia (acute) (double) (migratory) (purulent) (septic) (unresolved) › staphylococcal (broncho) (lobar) › aureus (methicillin susceptible) (MSSA) › methicillin resistant (MRSA)
• Pneumonia (acute) (double) (migratory) (purulent) (septic) (unresolved) › in (due to) › Staphylococcus › aureus (methicillin susceptible) (MSSA) › methicillin resistant (MRSA)

U.S. Hospital Utilization

• An estimated 46,575 U.S. inpatient stays in 2023 included J15.212 among the documented diagnoses.
• 5,970 stays listed it as the principal diagnosis.

Source: National Inpatient Sample (NIS), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2016–2023. National survey-weighted estimates.

Official Coding Guidelines

Combination codes for MRSA infection

(a) Combination codes for MRSA infection When a patient is diagnosed with an infection that is due to methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and that infection has a combination code that includes the causal organism (e.g., sepsis, pneumonia) assign the appropriate combination code for the condition (e.g., code A41.02, Sepsis due to Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus or code J15.212, Pneumonia due to Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Do not assign code B95.62, Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere, as an additional code, because the combination code includes the type of infection and the MRSA organism. Do not assign a code from subcategory Z16.11, Resistance to penicillins, as an additional diagnosis. See Section C.1. for instructions on coding and sequencing of sepsis and severe sepsis.

COPD/asthma: acute exacerbation vs uncomplicated

a. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease [COPD] and Asthma 1) Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive bronchitis and asthma The codes in categories J44 and J45 distinguish between uncomplicated cases and those in acute exacerbation. An acute exacerbation is a worsening or a decompensation of a chronic condition. An acute exacerbation is not equivalent to an infection superimposed on a chronic condition, though an exacerbation may be triggered by an infection.

Source: CMS — ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY2026

References

• CMS — ICD-10-CM Official Code Set and Guidelines, FY2026
• CDC/NCHS — ICD-10-CM Files and Browser Tool
• AHRQ — HCUP National Inpatient Sample, Frequencies by Diagnosis Code (2016–2023)